CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Communication

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 719W, on public expenditure, what the sources are of the funding for communications.

Edward Vaizey: Pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 719W, on public expenditure, the communications budget is solely Exchequer funded.

Consultants

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on consultancies in each year since 2010-11.

Helen Grant: DCMS has spent the following amounts on consultancy services since 2010-11:
	
		
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2010-11 342,587.25 
			 2011-12 2,278,558.25 
			 2012-13 4,344,787.11 
		
	
	Figures for 2013-14 are still being finalised as final accounts are now being drawn up.
	The increase over the three years is primarily the result of spend on the London 2012 Olympics and the Department's broadband programme.

Culture: Exports

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps she has taken to increase UK cultural exports; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: With support from colleagues across Government, I am leading the GREAT Britain campaign, which showcases the very best of what Britain has to offer in order to encourage the world to visit, study and do business with the UK. The campaign aims to deliver significant and long-term increases in trade, tourism, education and inward investment in support of HMG's prosperity and growth agenda. Cultural exports are at the heart of that agenda. I am working to ensure we share the best of British culture with the world, and enable audiences here to experience the best of contemporary culture from around the world. In the last six months I have visited the United States, Russia and China to bang the drum for British culture, and signed agreements with my counterparts in China and the Republic of Korea which support cultural exports to those important and growing markets. Through the Creative Industries Council, I am working closely with UK business to further strengthen cultural exports.

Football

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will make a decision on the need for Government intervention in football governance.

Helen Grant: I continue to work closely with the football authorities to press for improvements in their governance of the sport; they have made welcome progress, and I expect them to maintain this momentum. We will move to intervene further only if football fails to demonstrate that they can reform their own governance of the game.

Football: Homophobia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to tackle homophobia in football; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Grant: DCMS and the FA take matters of discrimination very seriously. Following the 2012 Downing Street summit on racism in football, the FA is now delivering against a whole sport Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Plan called “Football's for Everyone” to widen football's talent pool, clarify antidiscrimination regulations and sanctions, instil confidence in reporting discrimination and increase understanding of equality and inclusion in football. I welcome this commitment, and their engagement with specific initiatives, such as “Football vs Homophobia”: any form of racism, anti-Semitism or homophobia is completely unacceptable.

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people the Gambling Commission has employed in each year since 2010; and how many people the Gambling Commission plans to employ in 2014-15. [R]

Helen Grant: The tables show the average number of people the Gambling Commission has employed in each year from 2010-11 until it merged with the National Lottery Commission on 1 October 2013, and the average number of people employed by the merged organisation in each period thereafter.
	
		
			 Average number of people employed at the Gambling Commission 
			  Number of employees 
			 2010-11 220 
			 2011-12 211 
			 2012-13 211 
			 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013 211 
		
	
	
		
			 Projected average number of people employed at the Gambling Commission following merger with the National Lottery Commission 
			  Number 
			 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014 246 
			 2014-15 282

Gambling Commission

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Gambling Commission has paid in salaries for each of the last three years; and how much it plans to spend in 2013-14 and 2014-15. [R]

Helen Grant: The tables show the amount paid in salaries by the Gambling Commission for each year from 2010-11, until it merged with the National Lottery Commission on 1 October 2013. The table also shows the projected amount paid in salaries for the merged organisation in each period thereafter.
	
		
			 Amount paid in salaries by the Gambling Commission 
			  Expenditure on salaries (£ million) 
			 2010-11 6.89 
			 2011-12 6.71 
			 2012-13 6.95 
			 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2014 3.61 
		
	
	
		
			 Projected amount paid in salaries by the Gambling Commission following merger with the National Lottery Commission 
			  £ million 
			 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014 4.30 
			 2014-15 9.03

National Lottery

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much in grant or lottery money has been given to (a) the Churches Conservation Trust, (b) Channel 4 Television Corporation, (c) Historic Royal Palaces, (d) Chatham Historic Dockyard, (e) the Design Museum, (f) Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, (g) the National Film and Television School, (h) the People's History Museum and (i) the Royal Household in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14.

Helen Grant: DCMS did not provide grant funding to Channel 4 Television Corporation or the Historic Royal Palaces between 2010-11 and 2013-14.
	Figures for grant funding provided by the Department to the following bodies are as follows:
	
		
			 £000 
			 Grant funding 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Churches Conservation Trust 3,067 2,926 2,828 2,787 
			 Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust 291 278 268 255 
			 Design Museum 437 828 357 298 
			 Greenwich Foundation for the Old Naval College 1,455 1,388 1,342 1,274 
			 National Film and Television School 3,038 2,904 2,857 2,766 
			 People's History Museum 173 168 164 159 
			 Royal Household1 15,624 15,414 — — 
			 Marlborough House2 — — 382 404 
			 1 From 1 April 2012 the Sovereign Grant replaced other sources of funding for the monarch's official duties. The funding relationship with the Royal Household passed from DCMS to HM Treasury with the exception of the budget for the maintenance of Marlborough House. 2 From 1 April 2012 DCMS provided funding for the maintenance of Marlborough House directly. 
		
	
	Details of all Lottery grants awarded since Lottery funding began can be found on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) Lottery Grants Database, which is searchable at:
	http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/AdvancedSearch.aspx
	and uses information on Lottery grants supplied by the Lottery distributors.

Telecommunications

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the actual and forecast profile of spend by her Department on the (a) Broadband Delivery Programme, (b) Mobile Infrastructure Project, (c) Spectrum Clearance and Awards Programme and (d) Urban Broadband Fund (Super-connected City Initiative) was or will be in each year between 2010-11 and 2020-21.

Edward Vaizey: The budgets for these DCMS programmes are subject to regular re-profiling. The forecasts and actual spends for them are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-major-projects-portfolio-data-for-dcms-2013

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) barristers, (b) solicitors and (c) witness care staff were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service at the end of (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2009-10.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Number 
			  Barristers Solicitors Witness care 
			 2009-10 853 2,353 228 
			 2012-13 677 1,867 131 
			 2013-14 645 1,771 100 
			 Notes: 1. Data extracted from the CPS HR Database iTrent as at the 31 March in each year. 2. Data may be subject to change due to retrospective changes in the HR database. 3. Data may differ from previously published data due to differing specifications. 
		
	
	Notwithstanding the staff reductions, conviction rates have remained broadly unchanged since 2009-10.
	Witness attendance remains constant over the last two financial years (to February 2014).

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service was required to pay in wasted cost orders in 2013-14.

Oliver Heald: The CPS maintains records of the overall value of costs payments made but does not distinguish between the various types of costs order available. To ascertain the types and value of individual costs awards made over the last five years would require a review of each case and this would incur disproportionate cost.
	The CPS central financial records indicate that the Department was required to pay £772,129.54 in costs awards in 2013-14. It should be noted that the accounts for 2013-14 are not finalised and this figure will be subject to audit and adjustment. Finalised figures will be available at the end of May 2014.
	The value of total costs payments made in 2013-14, £772,000, represents about 0.13% of overall CPS expenditure.

Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the (a) positive and (b) negative effects of serving a witness summons on a complainant in a court case involving alleged domestic violence.

Oliver Heald: I have made no formal appraisal, but Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance to prosecutors sets out the circumstances in which witness summonses can best be used in such cases. This guidance is published on the CPS website at:
	http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/domestic_violence_aide-memoire/#a25
	Witness summonses can be effective in ensuring complainants attend court when they would not otherwise do so. They can also support victims who are concerned about how a voluntary decision to attend court might be perceived by “removing” the pressure of making that decision for them. Where a victim attends as a result of a witness summons, there is often a guilty plea.
	However, it is also possible that a witness will still not attend, or may come to court but refuse to give evidence.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of judicial directions to prosecutors in criminal cases were (a) carried out on time, (b) carried out late and (c) not carried out in 2013-14.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service intends to publish the number of, and compliance with, judicial directions in prosecution proceedings heard at the Crown court for 2013-14 when they are available.
	Judicial directions to prosecutors are monitored by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on an individual case basis and there is no central record maintained at present. The information requested in respect of SFO cases could therefore be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Lottery Fund

David Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many members of the Board of the Big Lottery Fund have their main residence north of the city of Birmingham.

Nick Hurd: There are currently nine members of the UK Board of the Big Lottery Fund, two of whom have their main residences north of Birmingham. Of the remainder, three live in London and the others are based in other parts of the UK.
	The Big Lottery Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need, across the United Kingdom.

Heart Diseases

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Brigg and Goole constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and Humber and (iii) the UK have died from coronary heart disease in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated April 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Brigg and Goole constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and Humber and (iii) the UK have died from coronary heart disease in each of the last five years.
	Table 1 shows the number of deaths where ischaemic heart disease was the underlying cause of death for (a) Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency, (b) Yorkshire and The Humber region, (c) the United Kingdom in each year from 2008 to 2012 (the latest year available).
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was ischaemic heart disease, Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency, Yorkshire and the Humber region and the United Kingdom, deaths registered in each year from 2008 to 20121,2,3 
			 Area of usual residence Gender 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 UK Male 49,460 47,136 46,430 43,041 42,676 
			  Female 38,502 35,374 33,908 30,762 30,800 
			  Persons 87,962 82,510 80,338 73,803 73,476 
			        
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Male 4,664 4,386 4,307 3,945 3,963 
			  Female 3,519 3,280 3,217 2,875 2,841 
			  Persons 8,183 7,666 7,524 6,820 6,804 
			        
			 Brigg and Goole Male 82 77 82 63 65 
			  Female 69 55 52 52 51 
			  Persons 151 132 134 115 116 
			 1 Cause of death for ischaemic heart disease was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes I20 to I25. 2 Figures are based on boundaries as of February 2014 and exclude deaths of non-residents. 3 Figures are based on deaths registered rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html

Self-employed: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Brigg and Goole constituency are registered self-employed.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated April 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Brigg and Goole constituency are registered self-employed. (195274)
	The ONS compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	There were 5,000 people who were self employed and resident in Brigg and Goole constituency, according to APS survey responses in the period January to December 2013, the latest available period.
	As with any sample survey estimates from the APS are subject to a level of uncertainty. This estimate has been deemed as acceptable for statistical purposes.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ukraine

Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Ukraine.

William Hague: We are gravely concerned about the situation in Crimea and in the east of Ukraine, where armed groups have seized Government buildings in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk. There can be no justification for this action, which bears all the hallmarks of a Russian strategy to destabilise Ukraine. Russia should be clear that a deliberate and further escalation of the crisis will bring serious political and economic consequences.

Ukraine

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for free and fair elections in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Prime Minister said:
	“We need international support for free elections, which should enable Ukrainians to choose their leaders fairly.”
	We welcome the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights mission to Ukraine that will be providing advice and training to the authorities and monitoring the May elections. It is vital that required standards are met.

Jammu and Kashmir

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the political and economic situation in Jammu and Kashmir on the families of British people resident in that territory.

Hugo Swire: We welcome the meeting between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India in September. We encourage both sides to continue to maintain dialogue that will help strengthen the political and economic development of the region. However, we recognise that the scope and pace of this is for both sides to determine.

Malaysia

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met ministers of the Government of Malaysia; and what issues were discussed at that meeting.

Hugo Swire: We maintain frequent ministerial contact with the Government of Malaysia. The Prime Minister most recently spoke with Prime Minister Najib on 18 March. The Prime Ministers also met in October 2013. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met Foreign Minister Anifah in July 2013 and I visited Malaysia in June 2013 meeting several Ministers. In our contacts, we discuss a wide variety of issues, not least our growing economic relationship and regional security.

European Union Powers: Repatriation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on repatriation of powers from the EU.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I regularly speak to our ministerial colleagues in the UK as well as to our European counterparts about a range of EU issues, including the Government's EU reform priorities as set out in the Prime Minister’s speech in January last year.

Burundi

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political and human rights situation in Burundi; and what representations he has made to the Government of that country on that matter.

William Hague: We are deeply concerned by recent events in Bujumbura and increased violence by the youth wings of political parties. The limitations on political space pose a significant challenge for next year's elections. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), is currently in Burundi discussing these issues with the Burundian Government. Reconciliation and free and fair elections are key to Burundi's future.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of torture of prisoners detained in Bahrain.

Hugh Robertson: The British Government consistently and unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. The UK continues to work closely with the Government of Bahrain to share best practice on torture prevention measures and provide forensic training to increase investigative techniques and reduce reliance on confessions to contribute towards preventing torture.

Gulf Co-operation Council

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the recent Gulf Co-operation Council Security Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: I have not discussed the recent Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Security Agreement with my international counterparts although I discuss other issues with the Gulf Co-operation Council regularly. The British Government share the Gulf States' commitment to ensuring security and stability in the GCC and will continue to cooperate closely with our Gulf allies to help enhance their ability to respond to threats in line with international standards.

India

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Kashmir of the forthcoming Indian general election.

Hugo Swire: It would not be appropriate to speculate on the result of the Indian general election. India's elections are the largest in the world and represent one of the brightest beacons for democracy in the modern age. We await the decision of India's voters with respect and interest.

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme.

Hugh Robertson: E3+3 negotiations with Iran on a comprehensive agreement, which began in February, have so far been constructive and substantive, covering a range of issues, including enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear co-operation and sanctions relief. The Iranian negotiators have repeatedly stressed their commitment to reaching an agreement before the end of July. We, however, have no illusions about the challenge ahead in reaching an agreement which addresses our proliferation concerns.

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on strengthening UK-Iran diplomatic ties.

Hugh Robertson: We are ready to improve relations with Iran for the benefit of both countries on a step-by -step and reciprocal basis. The appointment of non-resident Chargés d'Affaires was an important step in this process and allows us to have direct discussions on a range of issues of importance. The UK and Iran agreed that as of 20 February we would no longer have formal Protecting Power arrangements in place. This is a sign of increasing confidence that we can conduct bilateral business directly between capitals, rather than through intermediaries. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last discussed bilateral relations with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 21 January.

Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on lifting existing trade sanctions with Iran in the near future.

Hugh Robertson: As set out in the Geneva interim deal, Iran is currently receiving limited sanctions relief for six months. This involves suspension of sanctions on petrochemicals, and some precious metals. The E3+3 is now negotiating with Iran on a comprehensive agreement that would see the full lifting of sanctions, including on trade, providing Iran takes the necessary steps to ensure its nuclear programme is for entirely peaceful purposes. The UK Government is not encouraging trade with Iran. Economic pressure is crucial in maintaining Iran's incentive to reach a comprehensive agreement.

Iran

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent seizure of a cache of long-range rockets from an Iranian shipment in the Red Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The transfer of such weaponry undermines regional security. We have called on the UN 1737 Committee's Panel of Experts to investigate. Should their findings point to Iran being responsible, it would be a breach of UNSCR 1737 and a worrying sign of Iran's ongoing support for militant groups throughout the region.

Iraq

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on accepting end-use certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government in respect of military and dual-use goods being exported from the UK to Kurdistan; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Government follows the requirements set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 when granting licenses for the export of military and dual-use goods from the UK to Iraq, including to the Kurdistan region.

Iraq

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on which EU member states have accepted end-use certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government in respect of military and dual-use goods being exported from their respective countries to Kurdistan.

Hugh Robertson: We do not hold any information on which EU member states accept end-user certificates from the Kurdistan Regional Government, or any other countries of final destination, in respect of military and dual-use goods.
	The British Government follow the requirements set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 when granting licenses for the export of military and dual-use goods from the UK to Iraq, including to the Kurdistan region.

North Korea

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation of Christians in North Korea.

Hugo Swire: The UN Commission of Inquiry report on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed ongoing persecution of Christians, alongside other appalling human rights violations. The UK played an important role in ensuring a strong UN Human Rights Council resolution on this issue. We continue to work with partners to maintain international pressure on the DPRK.

Palestinians

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's policy is on the intention of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to seek official recognition from UN bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: We would ultimately like to see a Palestinian state represented throughout all the organs of the United Nations. At this stage, we continue to believe that negotiations are the only route to ending the occupation once and for all. We urge all parties to focus on achieving that goal.

Poland

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Polish Government on the return of property stolen during World War Two to UK families and heirs of Holocaust victims.

David Lidington: The issue of property restitution was last raised with the Polish Government in January 2014 during a visit to Poland by Sir Andrew Burns, Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues to Rajapaksa the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Government attach great importance to supporting the families tragically affected by the Holocaust, including on the issue of property restitution. Sir Andrew Burns will continue to fulfil his mandate to raise concerns such as compensation and redress with Governments in countries including Poland, at every opportunity. We remain hopeful that the Polish Government will revive legislation and we will continue to encourage them to do so, including through our embassy in Warsaw.

Roads: Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent promoting road safety in other countries in each of the last three years.

David Lidington: The promotion of road safety abroad has been covered in recent years as part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's ‘Know Before You Go' travel safety campaign.
	As part of this we have undertaken a range of activities to deliver messaging on road safety and vehicular security to UK nationals travelling and living overseas. This includes a global campaign in 2012, the creation of two widely-used radio fillers, a short video on driving safely in Europe and targeted local initiatives undertaken in Portugal and France. Our records have identified costs associated with this activity of around £28,300 over the last three years.

Sri Lanka

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether any Minister of his Department is scheduled to meet President Rajapaksa at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games;
	(2)  when the hon. Member for East Devon next plans to meet representatives of President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka's (a) Government and (b) political party.

William Hague: The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has no current plans to meet representatives of Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa's Government or political party.

St Petersburg International Economic Forum

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 433W on St Petersburg International Economic Forum, when he expects to take a decision about Government representation at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

David Lidington: We do not expect any UK Ministers to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum this year.

Venezuela

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's latest assessment is of the political and security situation in Venezuela.

William Hague: I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Venezuela and condemn all acts of violence. It is important that the Venezuelan Government respect the right to protest peacefully, and ensure that public security and due process is afforded in investigations.
	I welcome the visits of the commission of Foreign Ministers from the Union of South American Nations, who have met with President Maduro, opposition leaders and civil society representatives. I am aware, from my visit to the region in February, that Governments in the region are keen to support broad and constructive dialogue.
	The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has called for all sides to take steps to avoid confrontation, and has written to the Venezuelan Government to stress the need for dialogue to take place and offered the UK's assistance in the reconciliation process. We are monitoring the situation closely, and keeping travel advice for British nationals under review.

JUSTICE

Fines: Surcharges

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the proportion of offences where the victim surcharge is ordered and there is no victim.

Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice does not collate the information in the manner requested, and it is not possible to identify the amount of victim surcharge collected in relation to offences where there was no victim.
	The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. This centrally held information does not include details of the amount of victim surcharge imposed for the majority of cases. Below is a link to our most recent quarterly bulletin.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/282983/1-executive-summary-tables.xls

Offensive Weapons

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people aged (a) under 18 years old and (b) 18 years and over (i) were prosecuted and (ii) received a custodial sentence for the offence of threatening with article with blade or point or offensive weapon in each year since the offence's inception;
	(2)  how many people aged 18 years and over convicted of the offence of threatening with article with blade or point or offensive weapon have received a sentence of (a) under six months, (b) six months and (c) over six months in each year since that offence's inception; and if he will make a statement.
	(3)  how many individuals aged under 18 years convicted of the offence of threatening with an article with blade or point or offensive weapon received a sentence of (a) under four months, (b) four months and (c) over four months in each year since the offence's inception; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2013 introduced new offences of threatening with a knife or offensive weapon in a public place or school. These offences carry a mandatory minimum sentence of a four month Detention and Training Order for 16-17 year olds, and six months custody for adults.
	Since the new offences came into force on 3 December 2012, 88 adult convictions have resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, of which nine received a sentence for less than six months, 12 received exactly six months and 67 received a sentence for over six months.
	Since the new offences came into force on 3 December 2012, there have been 16 convictions against offenders aged 17 or under which resulted in an immediate custodial sentence. Of that number two resulted in a sentence of exactly four months and the remaining 14 over four months.
	The latest available figures on the number of offenders by age group who were convicted or received a custodial sentence for offences involving threatening with a knife or offensive weapon are available in table 9 of the Knife Possession Sentencing Quarterly Brief October-December 2013 which was published on 13 March 2014. The quarterly bulletin is available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly
	The figures provided have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences committed in England and Wales. In addition, as with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Data on prosecutions for threatening with a bladed article or offensive weapon are due to be published for the first time in the Annual Criminal Justice Statistics in May 2014.
	This Government are clear that people who are convicted of threatening with a knife should go to prison. Sentencing in individual cases remains a matter for the courts and they may depart from the mandatory minimum custodial sentence if there are particular circumstances which would make it unjust to do so. Parliament has provided the courts with tough sentencing options and we continue to keep this under close scrutiny.

Prisoners: Diabetes

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners suffer from diabetes;
	(2)  how many prisoners are recorded as having had diabetes-related amputations;
	(3)  what guidance his Department gives to prisons on the management of offenders with (a) diabetes and (b) diabetes-related amputations;
	(4)  what specialist facilities are available for prisoners with (a) diabetes and (b) diabetes-related amputations.

Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	Information is not collected centrally about the number of prisoners in English prisons with diabetes or recorded as having diabetes-related amputations.
	NHS England commissions prison health services in England. The same range and quality of treatment and care is provided to prisoners in England as is provided to the rest of the population. Commissioners ensure that providers make appropriate treatments and services available for prisoners with diabetes.
	All prisons in England have on-site primary health care services which treat most health problems, including diabetes. When appropriate treatment cannot be provided in a particular prison, a prisoner can be transferred to another prison which is able to provide the required treatment, or escorted to hospital as an in-patient or out-patient.
	Health care professionals in English prisons are expected to take National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and the NICE Quality Standard on Diabetes into account when deciding treatment for prisoners with diabetes or with diabetes-related amputations.

Prisoners: Muslims

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2014, Official Report, column 284W, on Muslim prisoners, how many and what proportion of Muslim prisoners included in the figures listed for 2013 have converted to that religion since they arrived in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of prisoners who convert to each religion (including Islam) while in prison is not held centrally. The data held centrally relates to prisoners' current declared religion, not any previously declared religion.
	In order to provide data relating to offender conversions to Islam in prison, it would be necessary to manually examine the individual prison records of over 11,700 Muslims in prison as at 31 December 2013. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget is for each (a) private and (b) public prison.

Jeremy Wright: Allocated budgets for individual prisons for financial year 2014-15 are in the process of being finalised and are not yet available.
	Budget allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to departmental priorities.

Prisons: Libraries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what books in (a) foreign languages and (b) Welsh prison libraries have;
	(2)  what newspapers are provided in prison libraries;
	(3)  what cultural events have been organised in prison libraries in the last year.

Jeremy Wright: Prison library providers ensure that the range of reading and reference material available in each library reflects the needs and diverse nature of the prisoners held.
	Prisons holding a high proportion of foreign national prisoners who are speakers of other languages offer a range of relevant texts within their libraries.
	Alternatively, prisoners can order newspapers for personal use. Prisoners cover the cost of any newspaper they personally order. Newspapers based on the needs of the population will be available for general use in the library.
	Prison libraries will facilitate a range of cultural activities such as reading and creative writing groups, special interest clubs, outreach work to families as well as exhibiting art, hosting writers, artists and speakers on subjects of interest. Additional support may be brought in from local community groups and charities.
	Information about what particular foreign language and Welsh books are held within each prison library, which newspapers are stocked, and what cultural events have been organised, is not collected centrally and could be obtained only through local inquiries at each prison. This would incur disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Libraries

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what facilities prison libraries have to help prisoners order books through the internet;
	(2)  how much prisoners have to pay to order a book through the inter-library loan system.

Jeremy Wright: The NOMS policy on prisoner retail allows prisoners (via prison staff) to order books from approved mail order providers. This is at the discretion of the Governor.
	An inter-library loan request service, facilitated by the librarian or library assistant, enables prisoners to request books in the same way as library users in the community.
	No charge is made for prisoners using the inter-library loan service. Where a special request is necessary, for example to the British Library, a charge will be made. This is consistent with the policy applied to service users in the community.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been given more than one life sentence on separate sentencing occasions in the last 10 years; and what the offences were for which they received those life sentences.

Jeremy Wright: A life sentence is mandatory for murder and discretionary life sentences are available to judges for other very serious offences. This Government have introduced an automatic life sentence for a second very serious violent or sexual offence.
	Under a life sentence, the court determines the minimum period to be served in prison for the purposes of punishment and deterrence. Once that period has been served it is for the Parole Board to determine if and when the offender may be released from prison on life licence and subject to recall for the rest of their life.
	Table 1 shows the number of offenders who have been sentenced to life in the 12 months ending September 2013 who previously had one or more previous life sentence on a separate sentencing occasion within the last 10 years, in England and Wales. The table also shows details of their latest and previous offences for which they received a life sentence.
	The number of offenders who receive a second life sentence is small. A number of life sentence prisoners commit offences in prison which result in a second life sentence. Some life sentence prisoners can also receive a second life sentence on conviction for offences committed prior to being imprisoned (e.g. a previous murder or rape). Only one of the offenders shown in Table 1 had been released from prison on life licence when he committed a further offence which resulted in a second life sentence.
	The figures provided have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences committed in England and Wales. In addition, as with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of offenders1 with one or more previous2, 3 life sentence within the last 10 years with offence details of the most recent and previous offences 
			 Year Offence at the most sentencing occasion where a life sentence was given Offence at previous sentencing occasion where a life sentence was given Number of offenders1 with one or more previous life sentencing occasion within the last 10 years 
			 2013 Common law murder of persons aged one year or over Common law murder of persons aged one year or over 1 
			  Common law attempted murder Common law attempted murder 1 
			  Theft Act 1968 section 8 robbery Firearms Act 1968 section 18(1) (Group 1). Possessing firearm or imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence or resist arrest 1 
			  Common law attempted murder Common law murder of persons aged one year or over 1 
			  Offences against the Person Act 1861. Section l8. Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm Offences against the Person Act 1861. Section 18. Wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm 1 
			  Common law attempted murder Common law attempted murder 1 
			 Total   6 
			 1 Figures are based on counting the number of sentencing occasions (where a life sentence was given) for offences committed by offenders which were prosecuted by police forces in England and Wales including the British Transport police. Offenders who have been convicted on more than one occasion during the year will be represented several times. 2 Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a life sentence for any offences recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where an offender was convicted of more than one offence at a single court hearing, only one conviction is counted. 3 The number of offenders with a previous sentencing occasion could include cases where the offender is serving the two sentences concurrently, so was not released from prison. Note: All data have been taken from the MOJ extract of the Police National Computer. This includes details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings given for recordable offences (see www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1139/schedule/made for definition). It is therefore possible that some offenders presented in the table above have previously also received convictions for offences not recorded on the PNC. Source: Ministry of Justice, Police National Computer (PNC).

Sentencing: West Yorkshire

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average custodial sentence was for people of each gender sentenced in the West Yorkshire police force area to immediate custody for (a) summary only offences, (b) either way offences and (c) indictable only offences; and for which offences such people were sentenced.

Jeremy Wright: The sentencing framework and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case. This will include all aggravating and mitigating factors, the criminal history of the offender and a guilty plea.
	Defendants are now more likely to be convicted for committing crime and sent to prison for longer than they were a decade ago. In addition criminals convicted since 2010 are more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, both overall and for a first time offence.
	Offenders sentenced at all courts, by gender, class type, offence type in West Yorkshire police force area from 2008 to 2012 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. In many cases the numbers are too small for the average custodial sentence length to be meaningful.
	Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
	
		
			 Offenders sentenced at all courts, by gender, class type, offence type, in West Yorkshire police force area1, 2 
			 Gender Year Class type Offence type Sentenced Immediate custody Average custodial sentence length (months)3 
			 Males 2008 Indictable offences Violence against the person 192 166 51.2 
			    Sexual offences 95 76 80.34 
			    Burglary 54 35 24.7 
			    Robbery 423 284 36.57 
			    Fraud and forgery 63 27 19.24 
			    Criminal damage 14 9 34.75 
			    Other indictable 94 56 29.7 
			    Total (All) 935 653 41.89 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 1,328 382 13.05 
			    Sexual offences 140 70 24.67 
			    Burglary 1,321 515 17.72 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 4,538 838 4.41 
			    Fraud and forgery 402 52 10.14 
			    Criminal damage 292 31 5.83 
			    Drug offences 1,797 436 34.14 
		
	
	
		
			    Other indictable 1,809 289 7.6 
			    Indictable motoring 190 85 11.28 
			    Total (All) 11,817 2,698 14.17 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 11,499 538 2.8 
			    Total (All) 11,499 538 2.8 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 22,946 255 3.26 
			    Total (All) 22,946 255 3.26 
			        
			  2009 Indictable offences Violence against the person 169 156 49.56 
			    Sexual offences 97 86 69.2 
			    Burglary 77 57 38.98 
			    Robbery 427 272 36.75 
			    Fraud and forgery 47 33 24.64 
			    Criminal damage 21 16 33.69 
			    Other indictable 104 60 30.96 
			    Total (All) 942 680 42.19 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 1,464 423 12.97 
			    Sexual offences 115 38 25.64 
			    Burglary 1,212 516 18.56 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 3,997 632 5.66 
			    Fraud and forgery 409 50 10.95 
			    Criminal damage 246 16 13.7 
			    Drug offences 1,927 465 33.66 
			    Other indictable 2,180 408 7.23 
			    Indictable motoring 237 96 10.25 
			    Total (All) 11,787 2,644 15.11 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 11,148 454 2.73 
			    Total (All) 11,148 454 2.73 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 22,697 186 3.25 
			    Total (All) 22,697 186 3.25 
			        
			  2010 Indictable offences Violence against the person 203 182 51.16 
			    Sexual offences 84 77 75.19 
			    Burglary 59 39 39.21 
			    Robbery 424 258 35.77 
			    Fraud and forgery 43 28 17.6 
			    Criminal damage 22 13 38.4 
			    Other indictable 104 65 46.42 
			    Total (All) 939 662 44.09 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 1,618 446 12.23 
			    Sexual offences 151 62 24.71 
			    Burglary 1,302 553 18 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 4,188 731 5.24 
			    Fraud and forgery 395 67 16.37 
		
	
	
		
			    Criminal damage 262 28 12.28 
			    Drug offences 2,189 510 30.96 
			    Other indictable 2,731 471 7.47 
			    Indictable motoring 225 86 11.04 
			    Total (All) 13,061 2,954 14.35 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 11,014 465 2.82 
			    Total (All) 11,014 465 2.82 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 19,439 132 3.08 
			    Total (All) 19,439 132 3.08 
			        
			  2011 Indictable offences Violence against the person 157 142 68.69 
			    Sexual offences 95 84 87.13 
			    Burglary 51 41 36.59 
			    Robbery 421 262 34.93 
			    Fraud and forgery 64 40 21.38 
			    Criminal damage 12 7 47 
			    Other indictable 71 40 21.99 
			    Total (All) 871 616 46.55 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 1,525 451 13.02 
			    Sexual offences 144 57 29.65 
			    Burglary 1,340 653 19.36 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 3,871 762 5.23 
			    Fraud and forgery 429 90 13.7 
			    Criminal damage 213 28 14.25 
			    Drug offences 2,156 491 33.99 
			    Other indictable 2,285 417 9.23 
			    Indictable motoring 197 70 11.13 
			    Total (All) 12,160 3,019 15.59 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 9,354 520 2.65 
			    Total (All) 9,354 520 2.65 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 15,565 141 3.33 
			    Total (All) 15,565 141 3.33 
			        
			  2012 Indictable offences Violence against the person 129 119 70.34 
			    Sexual offences 80 73 81.97 
			    Burglary 42 39 54.41 
			    Robbery 370 261 39.2 
			    Fraud and forgery 25 17 28.18 
			    Criminal damage 18 14 36.17 
			    Other indictable 93 52 20.44 
			    Total (ALL) 757 575 48.71 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 1,369 424 12.06 
			    Sexual offences 141 66 26.43 
			    Burglary 1,049 503 19.82 
		
	
	
		
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 3,581 735 5.18 
			    Fraud and forgery 360 74 13.31 
			    Criminal damage 177 16 12.36 
			    Drug offences 2,033 442 30.39 
			    Other indictable 2,079 370 8.57 
			    Indictable motoring 182 68 10.3 
			    Total (All) 10,971 2,698 14.48 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 8,624 438 2.85 
			    Total (All) 8,624 438 2.85 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 15,253 103 3.04 
			    Total (All) 15,253 103 3.04 
			        
			        
			 Females 2008 Indictable offences Violence against the person 19 17 39.86 
			    Burglary 2 — — 
			    Robbery 60 20 35.37 
			    Fraud and forgery 13 8 12.88 
			    Criminal damage 9 3 24 
			    Other indictable 12 5 6.8 
			    Total (All) 115 53 29.48 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 214 28 13.29 
			    Sexual offences 5 1 9 
			    Burglary 59 10 11.29 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 1,225 129 3.38 
			    Fraud and forgery 183 8 8.21 
			    Criminal damage 23 3 5.6 
			    Drug offences 172 19 23.16 
			    Other indictable 229 21 0.97 
			    Indictable motoring 5 — — 
			    Total (All) 2,115 219 6.73 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 6,191 44 2.8 
			    Total (All) 6,191 44 2.8 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 3,534 8 2.48 
			    Total (All) 3,534 8 2.48 
			        
			  2009 Indictable offences Violence against the person 17 14 43.58 
			    Sexual offences 1 — — 
			    Burglary 2 2 21 
			    Robbery 42 11 21.64 
			    Fraud and forgery 9 2 10 
			    Criminal damage 10 4 28.5 
			    Other indictable 22 6 19 
			    Total (All) 103 39 28.41 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 221 28 12.79 
			    Sexual offences 2 1 6 
		
	
	
		
			    Burglary 47 7 17.17 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 1,190 97 3.22 
			    Fraud and forgery 253 18 9.88 
			    Criminal damage 36 — — 
			    Drug offences 166 21 28.01 
			    Other indictable 262 24 5.98 
			    Indictable motoring 4 — — 
			    Total (All) 2,181 196 8.7 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 6,513 36 2.1 
			    Total (All) 6,513 36 2.1 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 4,001 3 1.48 
			    Total (All) 4,001 3 1.48 
			        
			  2010 Indictable offences Violence against the person 13 12 32.92 
			    Burglary 1 1 24 
			    Robbery 40 19 27.74 
			    Fraud and forgery 12 3 20 
			    Criminal damage 7 4 39 
			    Other indictable 9 1 36 
			    Total (All) 82 40 29.95 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 252 17 13.85 
			    Sexual offences 5 1 12 
			    Burglary 44 7 6.38 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 1,116 100 4.05 
			    Fraud and forgery 204 15 21.5 
			    Criminal damage 36 4 1.58 
			    Drug offences 212 29 19.31 
			    Other indictable 355 32 4.53 
			    Indictable motoring 6 1 14 
			    Total (All) 2,230 206 8.47 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 6,715 27 2.33 
			    Total (All) 6,715 27 2.33 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 3,753 — — 
			    Total (All) 3,753 — — 
			        
			  2011 Indictable offences Violence against the person 11 7 43.43 
			    Sexual offences — — — 
			    Burglary 1 — — 
			    Robbery 44 20 29.65 
			    Fraud and forgery 6 1 24 
			    Criminal damage 5 1 32 
			    Other indictable 26 7 15.48 
			    Total (All) 93 36 29.88 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 210 27 8.67 
			    Sexual offences 3 — — 
		
	
	
		
			    Burglary 55 25 16.54 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 945 99 5.13 
			    Fraud and forgery 189 19 7.65 
			    Criminal damage 29 2 1.47 
			    Drug offences 148 15 26.49 
			    Other indictable 281 37 2.69 
			    Indictable motoring 9 — — 
			    Total (All) 1,869 224 8.04 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 6,166 22 2.27 
			    Total (All) 6,166 22 2.27 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 2,974 2 2.8 
			    Total (All) 2,974 2 2.8 
			        
			  2012 Indictable offences Violence against the person 11 10 55.33 
			    Sexual offences 1 1 28 
			    Burglary — — — 
			    Robbery 42 21 28.43 
			    Fraud and forgery 5 1 18 
			    Criminal damage 10 6 33.67 
			    Other indictable 30 11 18.91 
			    Total (All) 99 50 31.65 
			        
			   Triable either way Violence against the person 169 16 7.14 
			    Sexual offences 2 1 24 
			    Burglary 40 14 19.93 
			    Theft and handling stolen goods 849 114 4.1 
			    Fraud and forgery 135 13 8.66 
			    Criminal damage 23 2 1.63 
			    Drug offences 158 9 21.44 
			    Other indictable 217 24 4.11 
			    Indictable motoring 4 — — 
			    Total (All) 1,597 193 6.7 
			        
			   Summary non motoring offences Summary offences (excluding motoring) 6,490 25 3.04 
			    Total (All) 6,490 25 3.04 
			        
			   Summary motoring Summary motoring offences 3,319 2 3.5 
			    Total (All) 3,319 2 3.5 
			 ‘—‘ = Nil 1 The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.

Trade Unions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.

Shailesh Vara: Arrangements of this sort are kept under review.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department took to ensure British companies were made aware of the tendering process for the contract to return British military equipment from Afghanistan; and how many British companies tendered for that contract.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is bound by European Union (EU) public procurement directives which demand fair and open competition across the EU for all contracts involving the expenditure of public funds.
	Defence Equipment and Support is currently seeking proposals from Industry (under an existing Framework advertised in 2011) to provide an air transport service to move cargo between the UK and Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick. Within that framework, there are seven companies, which are either UK companies or have offices within the UK, competing for this work.

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times a day the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier will be able to enter Portsmouth Harbour during spring tides.

Philip Dunne: The Queen Elizabeth class carriers would be able to enter Portsmouth Harbour twice a day, on each of two daily high tides, as could the Invincible class carriers.

Aircraft Carriers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which companies tendered for the Portsmouth Harbour dredging contract;
	(2)  when the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will allow the contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour so the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier can navigate it; what estimate he has made of the contract's cost to the public; and when work will (a) commence and (b) finish.

Philip Dunne: The contract to dredge Portsmouth Harbour is expected to be awarded in April 2015 and is worth £20 million to £40 million. Work will commence following the appointment of the successful bidder, and will be completed ahead of HMS Queen Elizabeth's arrival in late 2016.
	The bidders for the contract are Boskalis Westminster Ltd, Van Oord UK Ltd and Dredging International NV.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 317W, on armed forces: vehicles, which specific sites for vehicle storage have spare capacity; how much spare capacity is available at each such site; how many vehicles are stored at each such site; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: There is spare capacity at the following dedicated vehicle storage sites: Ashchurch, Stafford, Ayrshire, Chivenor (Royal Marines) and Kinnegar.
	Ashchurch has 20% available capacity and 4,140 vehicles on site, Stafford has 38% available capacity and 495 vehicles on site, Ayrshire has 40% available capacity and 2,186 vehicles on site, Chivenor has 41% available capacity and 227 vehicles on site, Kinnegar has 29% available capacity and 213 vehicles on site. These figures will fluctuate as the study into the optimum vehicle storage solution matures.

Army

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made on the effect of changes in the size of the regular Army on the UK's ability to fulfil NATO obligations.

Mark Francois: We remain fully confident the UK is able to fulfil its obligations to NATO as we implement our Future Force 2020 plans. As explained to NATO Allies during recent NATO defence planning discussions, the UK has a realistic and achievable plan to meet our target of a sensible whole force balance and the UK already has an enviable reputation in NATO for addressing the defence planning targets the Alliance gives us.

Defence Equipment and Support

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the timelines and milestones for Defence Equipment and Support Transformation will be published online and on the defence intranet.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her and my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Sir Peter Luff) on 7 April 2014, Official Report, columns 91-92W.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed within the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group will be (a) within and (b) without the scope of the sale.

Philip Dunne: At the moment we expect all 1,973 permanent staff members employed within the land-focused Defence Support Group business to be included within the scope of sale and transferred to the new owner under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. The final assessment will take place closer to the time of the actual sale.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he chose a one stage process for the sale of the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group; and what consultation there was on the options for the sale process with (a) the workforce of the group and (b) trades unions.

Philip Dunne: The decision to proceed with a one stage process was taken to maximise competitive tension and shorten the time scales for the transaction. The commercial considerations around the structure of the competition are a matter for the Department so did not form part of our consultation with Defence Support Group staff and trade unions.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which bidders and consortia have passed the pre-qualification stage to purchase the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence issued an Invitation To Negotiate on 28 March 2014 to a number of bidders, including individual companies and consortia, for the sale of the Defence Support Group Land Business. The identity of those bidders is commercially sensitive information.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which sites used by the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group will be (a) sold, (b) leased to the buyer and (c) closed with a view to being put on the open market for development.

Philip Dunne: Other than the proposed closure of the site at Ashchurch for subsequent sale for development, it is not the intention of the Ministry of Defence to sell any of the sites used by the Defence Support Group (DSG) or to close any with a view to putting them on the market. The following facilities which the DSG occupy exclusively will be leased to the new company:
	Andover
	Bicester
	Bovington (main DSG facility)
	Lulworth
	Catterick
	Colchester
	Donnington
	Sennybridge
	Stirling
	Warminster (main DSG facility)
	The DSG will be granted a licence to occupy facilities at the following locations:
	Abingdon
	Aldershot Sites
	Ashchurch (pending closure)
	Bovington (In-Barracks Support)
	Brawdy
	Chivenor
	Edinburgh
	Kinnegar
	Longmoor
	Portsmouth
	St Athan
	Stirling (Bldg 135)
	Stranraer
	Tidworth
	Waddington
	Warminster (In-Barracks Support)
	Wattisham
	Woodbridge
	Woolwich
	Wyton

DSG Ashchurch

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 317W, on armed forces: vehicles, if he will confirm whether any Ministers in his Department have visited Defence Infrastructure Organisation Ashchurch since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: There have been two ministerial visits to Ashchurch since May 2010, both made by the Minister with responsiblity for defence equipment support and technology who held office at the time. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Sir Peter Luff) visited the site in February 2011. More recently, I made a similar visit in June 2013, meeting officials and employees of the units based on the site, including those of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation where I also had a meeting with trade union representatives.

HMS Hermes

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour.

Philip Dunne: The number of times HMS Hermes docked in Portsmouth Harbour for maintenance and refit, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Dates Reason 
			 September to November 1960 Maintenance 
			 October 1961 to April 1962 Refit 
			 October to November 1962 Maintenance 
			 November 1966 to January 1967 Maintenance 
			 March to May 1968 Maintenance 
			 April to August 1969 Maintenance 
			 December 1969 to January 1970 Maintenance 
			 November 1978 to January 1979 Maintenance 
			 March to May 1979 Maintenance 
			 November 1979 to January 1980 Maintenance 
			 March 1980 to May 1981 Refit 
			 December 1981 to January 1982 Maintenance 
			 March to April 1982 Maintenance 
			 August to November 1982 Maintenance 
			 July to August 1983 Maintenance

RAF Croughton

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with the United States Department of Defense (USDoD) in respect of the installation by BT of a special communications system to link RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire with the USDoD headquarters in Washington DC and the US Africa headquarters for unmanned aircraft operations in Djibouti.

Mark Francois: The installation of US communications systems at RAF Croughton is a matter for the United States visiting forces. No discussions have taken place in respect to the installation by BT of a special communications system to link RAF Croughton with the Department of Defence headquarters in the US, and US forces in Djibouti.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2014, Official Report, column 703W, on RAF Mildenhall, whether his Department maintains records of all MQ-1 Predators carried in aircraft which refuel in the air or by landing at RAF Mildenhall; and whether he will disclose the date of each such flight over the last three years.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has no record of any aircraft carrying MQ-1 Predators air-to-air refuelling over the UK, or landing at RAF Mildenhall to refuel, over the last three years.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, columns 322-3W, on unmanned air vehicles, whether the training of UK personnel in the six countries identified has involved unmanned aircraft actively engaged in operations.

Mark Francois: Training of UK personnel in the six countries identified has not involved unmanned aircraft actively engaged in operations. Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) training has only ever occurred in non-operational environments, specifically the countries listed in my previous answer on 27 March 2014. Army UAS actively engaged in operations have always been, and continue to be, remotely piloted solely by fully trained personnel operating on the ground in the country in which the operation is active. This has only been in Iraq and Afghanistan.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Pakistan

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on aid to the desert region of Thar in Sindh Province, Pakistan in each year since 2010.

Justine Greening: It is not possible to disaggregate costs specifically for the Thar region without incurring disproportionate cost, but DFID supports a number of national programmes and international agencies which work across Sindh Province.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the reliability of statistician-imputed data monitoring for his Department's implementation of the Abortion Act 1967; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answers of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 563W, on abortion and of 20 March 2014, Official Report, column 725W, on congenital abnormalities, for what reason the information requested cannot be provided.

Jane Ellison: Where more than one medical condition is listed on Form HSA4 it is not known which methods of diagnosis were used to identify all the conditions listed.
	Abortion statistics are designated as national statistics and are produced in accordance with the standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to align HSA1 forms as revised in 1991 with the 1999 Procedures for the Approval of Independent Sector Places for the Termination of Pregnancy in respect of the requirement for registered medical practitioners to see and examine patients seeking referral; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department recently undertook a public consultation on updated Procedures for the Approval of Independent Sector Place for Termination of Pregnancy. The consultation responses are being considered and updated Procedures will be published shortly. The Chief Medical Officer for England has written twice (on 23 February 2012 and 22 November 2013) to all practitioners reminding them of their responsibilities under the Abortion Act. Further guidance is currently in development and will be published in due course.

Air Pollution

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will provide additional support to care commissioning groups in areas affected by high air pollution.

Jane Ellison: The Department has not provided any additional funding to the national health service as result of the increase in air pollution. NHS England has advised that it is not aware of any significant operational issues as a consequence of the increase in air pollution.

Air Pollution

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of premature deaths directly attributable to air pollution in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: In 2010, the Department's expert advisory Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) published an estimate of the mortality effect in 2008 of long-term exposure to particulate air pollution arising from human activities. The mortality burden for the United Kingdom was estimated as an effect equivalent to nearly 29,000 deaths.
	Estimates of the fraction of mortality in English local authority areas in 2010 and 2011 attributable to long-term exposure to particulate air pollution arising from human activities are published by Public Health England as one of the indicators in the Department of Health's Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF). For England as a whole, this figure is approximately 5.5%.
	Estimates of deaths brought forward by short-term exposures to elevated levels of air pollutants have not been made for the years since 2010.
	Long-term exposure to air pollution is understood to be a contributory factor to deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. It is unlikely to be the sole cause of deaths of individuals.

Air Pollution

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of air pollution on levels of physical activity of people in the UK.

Jane Ellison: The Department has not commissioned an assessment on the effect of air pollution on levels of physical activity of people in the United Kingdom.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published web-based information on how to use the Daily Air Quality Index. This includes health advice for members of the public—in particular those with conditions that may make them sensitive to the effects of air pollutants—to reduce levels of exercise outdoors during periods of elevated air pollution.

Air Pollution

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect of air pollution on those people living with (a) heart disease and (b) lung disease.

Jane Ellison: It is known that when levels of air pollutants rise, adults suffering from heart conditions, and adults and children with lung conditions, are at increased risk of becoming ill and needing treatment. Only a minority of those who suffer from these conditions are likely to be affected and it is not possible to predict in advance who will be affected. Some people are aware that air pollution affects their health: adults and children with asthma may notice that they need to increase their use of inhaled reliever medication on days when levels of air pollution are higher than average1.
	1 Committee on the Medical Effects of Air pollutants (2011) Review of the UK Air Quality Index
	http://www.comeap.org.uk/documents/reports

Cancer

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve awareness of gynaecological cancers.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) is now responsible for raising awareness of cancer symptoms in England. Responsibility for the cancer awareness campaign in Scotland/Wales and Northern Ireland lies with their respective health departments. The National Cancer Intelligence Network is undertaking the evaluation of the Be Clear on Cancer campaigns. Be Clear on Cancer public campaigns to promote symptom recognition and encourage earlier general practitioner presentation, have been running since early 2011 and have covered a number of cancers. Campaigns that have run nationally include bowel, lung, kidney and bladder and breast cancer in older women.
	PHE plans to run two national Be Clear on Cancer campaigns later in this financial year, the first in October-November and the second in January-February. The focus of these is still to be confirmed. We will be assessing data from a number of campaigns, including the recent regional ovarian cancer campaign; a decision will depend on the evidence available and should be confirmed in June 2014.
	The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry has recently produced a report on gynaecological cancer which identifies late diagnosis as an issue for ovarian cancer. The Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland is planning initiatives to raise awareness about cancer in the population. Each jurisdiction of the United Kingdom is also involved in the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership which has monitored population awareness of cancer and is working to determine reasons for late diagnosis in the UK.

Food: Testing

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities did not report any food standards sampling in 2012-13 via the Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System; excluding those that took no samples at all, how many samples each local authority took; how many were submitted to the local authority's appointed public analyst; how many of those submitted to the public analyst were taken as part of a Food Standards Agency-funded project; and how many were paid for by the local authority; and how those figures compare to the equivalent figures for 2011-12.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that the following local authorities did not report any food standards sampling in 2012-13 via the Local Authority Enforcement Monitoring System (LAEMS):
	Armagh
	Birmingham
	Blackburn
	City of London
	Leicester City
	Rochdale
	Rutland
	South Lanarkshire
	Swindon
	All of these authorities reported microbiological samples via LAEMS in 2012-13 and/or reported food standards sampling through a separate FSA-funded project.
	A table has been placed in the Library which shows how many food standards samples each local authority reported via LAEMS in 2012-13, together with a comparison against the number reported in 2011-12 and how many food standards samples each local authority reported through a FSA-funded project.
	All of the reported food standards samples were official samples and would have been submitted to the local authority's appointed Public Analyst for analysis. Out of 22,055 food standards samples in 2012-13, 4,387 were funded by the FSA, all other food standards samples would have been paid for by the local authority. By comparison, in 2011-12, the FSA funded 5,072 out of 21,970 food standards samples.
	For some local authorities, the FSA funded sampling figure is larger than the number included in the LAEMS report. The difference will be due to the LAEMS reports only including samples for which the analytical result was received from the Public Analyst before 31 March 2013.

Friarage Hospital

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects a decision to be made by the reconfiguration panel on the future of maternity and paediatric services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Secretary of State for Health will commission advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel before making his final decision in due course.

General Practitioners

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what criteria are used to assess the need for new GP practices;
	(2)  how many new GP practices have been commissioned in each year since 1 January 2010;
	(3)  what the process is for commissioning new GP practices.

Daniel Poulter: Responsibility for the provision of NHS primary medical services rests with NHS England. There are no defined criteria for assessing the need for new practices—it is for NHS England area teams to take into account the needs of their local population and to ensure that patients have access to NHS primary medical services.
	When looking to commission a new general practitioner (GP) practice, NHS England will work with clinical commissioning groups and local authorities to determine the service to be procured. This service is then put out to tender.
	Information on the number of new GP practices is not collected centrally. However, the Health and Social Care Information Centre collect information on the number of GP practices in any one year and these figures are given in a table that has been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what weighting is given to (a) families with young children and (b) the elderly in the Carr-Hill GP funding formula.

Daniel Poulter: The weightings are set out in annex B of the General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements, which is published by the Department of Health and is available from:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/213225/GMS-Statement-of-Financial-Entitlements-2013.pdf
	For ease of reference, the table of weightings is copied as follows. The analysis supporting the formula estimates the relative workload, weighted by staff input costs, of providing general medical services to males and females of a number of age groups.
	
		
			 Table: Age-sex workload indices (males aged 5-14=1) 
			 Age 0-4 5-14 15-44 45-64 65-74 75-84 85+ 
			 Male 3.97 1 1.02 2.15 4.19 5.81 6.27 
			 Female 3.64 1.04 2.19 3.36 4.9 6.56 6.72

General Practitioners: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the role of dispensing doctors in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Since 1 January 2014, there has been one parliamentary question on the subject of dispensing doctors and four items of official correspondence. The latter figures represent correspondence received by the Department's ministerial correspondence unit only.
	In addition, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my noble Friend Earl Howe, met with representatives of the Dispensing Doctors Association on 25 March 2014.

General Practitioners: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the minimum income guarantee required for rural GP practices; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Since 1 January 2014, there have been four parliamentary questions on the subject of the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee and 220 items of official correspondence. The latter figures represent correspondence received by the Department's ministerial correspondence unit only.
	An Adjournment Debate on the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee took place on 26 March 2014.

Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 874W, on health services, if he will place in the Library a list of the key questions that each evaluation programme is trying to answer under Commissioning through Evaluation.

Jane Ellison: The key questions that the Selective Internal Radiotherapy Treatment (SIRT) Commissioning through Evaluation (CtE) scheme helps to answer are:
	Does treatment with SIRT for the clinical indications covered within the CtE scheme increase overall survival?
	Does treatment with SIRT for the clinical indications covered within the CtE scheme increase liver and wider progression free survival?
	What is the patient experience of treatment with SIRT for the clinical indications covered within the CtE programme?
	What is the actual cost, and relative cost effectiveness, of treatment with SIRT for the clinical indications covered within the CtE programme?
	Does the data suggest any differential benefit for particular cohorts of patients within the wider clinical indications covered within the scheme?
	Are there any factors from the experience of provision within centres participating in the scheme that should be taken into account in terms of future service provision, should the service become routinely commissioned by the NHS?
	Are there any research findings that have become available during the course of the CtE scheme that should be considered alongside the evaluative findings of the CtE scheme?
	NHS England has advised that the key questions for the other programmes are yet to be finalised.

Health: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions Ministers or officials in his Department have contacted their counterparts in the Scottish Government on cross-border public health risks in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not keep a central record of this information, and this could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

Human Papilloma virus

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women under the age of 25 have received the human papilloma virus vaccination in each year since 2008.

Jane Ellison: Human papilloma virus vaccine (HPV) coverage data are collected by academic year by Public Health England. The following figures represent the reported number of women who completed the three dose course of HPV in each academic year since the vaccine was introduced in 2008-09. These data are an under-estimate due to some females receiving their vaccine/completing the course after the data submission date. Females who received only one or only two doses of vaccine are not included as they have not completed the course and are not considered fully protected.
	No data are available yet for females completing three doses in the academic year 2013-14 as the third dose is not offered until at least six months after the start of the programme in September.
	
		
			 Academic year (cohorts offered vaccine1) Number of women under 25 years of age reported as vaccinated with three doses of HPV vaccine 
			 2008/092 348,274 
			 2009/102 976,119 
			 2010/112 308,553 
			 2011/123 255,234 
			 2012/133 247,605 
			 2013/143 4— 
			 1 The annual routine cohort is Yr 8 (12 to 13-year-olds), the catch-up cohorts were aged from 14 up to 18 years in 2008-09. 2 Routine and catch-up cohorts. 3 Routine cohort only. 4 3rd dose data not available yet.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that continence care products are provided on the basis of clinical need.

Norman Lamb: Clinical commissioning groups are responsible for commissioning a high quality continence service for their local populations and performance managing their providers in the delivery of high quality services.
	NHS England is responsible for the commissioning of specialised continence services and has produced a number of service specifications on various types of incontinence, clearly defining what is expected to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. Service specifications published by NHS England on incontinence include “Colorectal services: faecal Incontinence (adults), and Complex Gynaecology: Recurrent prolapse and urinary incontinence”.
	We expect providers of continence care products to take into account any relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on the management of incontinence.

Maternity Services: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the quality of maternity services in Peterborough.

Daniel Poulter: Over the past two years the Department has set up a £35 million capital investment fund which has seen improvements to over 100 maternity units. Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received £30,000, for which it used to upgrade its neonatal unit, birthing pool room and bereavement suite.
	We have made improving maternity services-so that women have a named midwife responsible for ensuring personalised maternity care-a key objective in our Mandate to NHS England.
	Since May 2010, the number of full-time equivalent midwives has increased by more than 1,500 and a record number, in excess of 5,000, are now in training.
	Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs)are responsible for commissioning maternity services locally. It is for CCGs, working with local authorities through health and wellbeing boards, and in conjunction with provider partners, to identify where and how maternity services can be improved.

Motor Neurone Disease

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency, (b) Yorkshire and Humber and (c) the UK have motor neurone disease; and how much his Department has spent on tackling that disease in each such area in the last three years.

Norman Lamb: Data on the number of people affected by motor neurone disease (MND) are not collected. However, it is estimated that there are about 5,000 people living with MND in the United Kingdom. On funding, while programme budgeting data provide figures for annual national health service spend on neurological services in England, spend on individual neurological conditions, such as MND, is not available as part of this.

Obesity

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women in (i) Brigg and Goole constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and Humber and (iii) the UK have been diagnosed with obesity in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not available in the format requested. The Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided the number of people recorded on practice disease registers in the Quality and Outcomes Framework at primary care trust (PCT), strategic health authority (SHA) and England level for 2009 to 2012 and clinical commissioning group (CCG), area team (AT) and England level for 2013. It is not possible to differentiate between men and women in the data.
	
		
			 Number of patients recorded on the obesity register by PCT, 2008-09 to 2011-12 
			  PCT Number of patients 
			 2008-09 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 26,233 
			  Lincolnshire PCT 66,686 
			  North Lincolnshire PCT 17,504 
			    
			 2009-10 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 27,626 
			  Lincolnshire PCT 70,393 
			  North Lincolnshire PCT 17,966 
			    
			 2010-11 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 28,144 
			  Lincolnshire PCT 74,659 
			  North Lincolnshire PCT 18,125 
			    
			 2011-12 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 29,287 
			  Lincolnshire PCT 77,949 
			  North Lincolnshire PCT 18,394 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of patients recorded on the obesity register in Yorkshire and Humber SHA, 2008-09 to 2011-12 
			  Number of patients 
			 2008-09 470,503 
			 2009-10 495,531 
			 2010-11 502,398 
			 2011-12 518,344 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of patients recorded on the obesity register in England, 2008-09 to 2012-13 
			  Number of patients 
			 2008-09 4,389,964 
			 2009-10 4,634,408 
			 2010-11 4,730,357 
			 2011-12 4,866,516 
			 2012-13 4,895,011 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of patients recorded on the obesity register by CCG, 2012-13 
			  Number of patients 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire CCG 29,252 
			 Lincolnshire West CCG 24,196 
			 North Lincolnshire CCG 18,302 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of patients recorded on the obesity register by area team, 2012-13 
			  Number of patients 
			 North Yorkshire and Humber AT 156,448 
			 South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw AT 157,346 
			 West Yorkshire AT 222,737

Out of Area Treatment: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people from Scotland received care in hospitals in England and Wales in each year since 2010; and what type of care was so provided;
	(2)  how many people from Scotland have received care for cancer in hospitals in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: As health is a devolved responsibility, we can only answer these questions with regard to patients treated in England.
	The number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) for patients resident in Scotland and treated in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, by treatment specialty for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, is set out in the following table. As one patient may have had more than one episode of care within the time period, these figures do not represent the number of patients.
	
		
			  Treatment specialty 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 & Not Known 5 — — 
			 100 General Surgery 652 637 605 
			 101 Urology 224 206 168 
			 102 Transplantation Surgery 11 6 12 
			 103 Breast Surgery 6 8 12 
			 104 Colorectal Surgery 53 62 70 
			 105 Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery 7 10 7 
			 106 Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery 21 21 35 
			 107 Vascular Surgery 24 34 27 
			 110 Trauma and Orthopaedics 696 648 532 
			 120 Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) 157 121 113 
			 130 Ophthalmology 185 187 180 
			 140 Oral Surgery 72 63 73 
			 141 Restorative Dentistry 3 2 4 
			 144 Maxillo Facial Surgery 25 17 14 
			 150 Neurosurgery 129 133 119 
			 160 Plastic Surgery 127 100 91 
			 161 Burns Care 9 2 5 
			 170 Cardiothoracic Surgery 103 84 9 
			 171 Paediatric Surgery 20 26 20 
			 172 Cardiac Surgery 34 17 37 
			 173 Thoracic Surgery 20 15 16 
			 174 Cardiothoracic Transplantation 5 1 281 
			 180 Accident and Emergency (A&E) 513 492 473 
			 190 Anaesthetics 8 2 11 
			 191 Pain Management 95 97 58 
			 192 Critical Care Medicine 11 18 6 
			 211 Paediatric Urology 58 55 84 
			 212 Paediatric Transplantation Surgery — 1 — 
			 214 Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics 5 24 25 
			 215 Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat 24 11 13 
			 216 Paediatric Ophthalmology 28 90 54 
			 217 Paediatric Maxillo-facial Surgery — — 3 
			 218 Paediatric Neurosurgery 21 19 11 
			 219 Paediatric Plastic Surgery 13 21 24 
			 220 Paediatric Burns Care 3 1 1 
			 221 Paediatric Cardiac Surgery 9 20 9 
			 222 Paediatric Thoracic Surgery 11 5 5 
			 242 Paediatric Intensive Care 8 5 5 
			 251 Paediatric Gastroenterology 8 15 24 
			 252 Paediatric Endocrinology 3 10 6 
		
	
	
		
			 253 Paediatric Clinical Haematology 36 — 3 
			 255 Paediatric Clinical Immunology and Allergy 3 1 9 
			 256 Paediatric Infectious Diseases — — 1 
			 257 Paediatric Dermatology 28 33 25 
			 258 Paediatric Respiratory Medicine 5 4 10 
			 259 Paediatric Nephrology 3 4 1 
			 260 Paediatric Medical Oncology 6 5 23 
			 261 Paediatric Metabolic Disease 42 39 89 
			 262 Paediatric Rheumatology 31 18 17 
			 264 Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis — 2 6 
			 280 Paediatric Interventional Radiology — — 1 
			 300 General Medicine 1,526 1,418 1,397 
			 301 Gastroenterology 113 98 101 
			 302 Endocrinology 9 28 44 
			 303 Clinical Haematology 63 135 121 
			 305 Clinical Pharmacology 4 1 10 
			 306 Hepatology 29 32 44 
			 307 Diabetic Medicine 3 10 9 
			 308 Bone and Marrow Transplantation 2 — — 
			 313 Clinical Immunology and Allergy 1 — 6 
			 314 Rehabilitation 7 34 48 
			 315 Palliative Medicine — 1 1 
			 318 Intermediate Care — 2 2 
			 320 Cardiology 270 301 290 
			 321 Paediatric Cardiology 35 33 30 
			 323 Spinal Injuries 7 5 1 
			 328 Stroke Medicine — 1 10 
			 329 Transient Ischaemic Attack — — 2 
			 330 Dermatology 56 43 48 
			 340 Respiratory Medicine (Thoracic Medicine) 184 200 100 
			 341 Respiratory Physiology 1 1 2 
			 343 Adult Cystic Fibrosis — 2 2 
			 350 Infectious Diseases 7 12 4 
			 352 Tropical Medicine — 2 — 
			 361 Nephrology 691 463 475 
			 370 Medical Oncology 59 64 39 
			 371 Nuclear Medicine — 1 7 
			 400 Neurology 190 142 120 
			 410 Rheumatology 28 37 44 
			 420 Paediatrics 343 467 429 
			 421 Paediatric Neurology 23 26 21 
			 422 Neonatology 3 3 4 
			 424 Well Babies 3 1 8 
			 430 Geriatric Medicine 106 108 112 
			 501 Obstetrics 130 126 136 
			 502 Gynaecology 188 159 169 
			 503 Gynaecological Oncology 7 11 11 
			 560 Midwife episode 11 15 25 
			 700 Learning Disability (previously MH) 8 2 3 
			 710 Adult Mental Illness 44 81 53 
			 712 Forensic Psychiatry — — 1 
		
	
	
		
			 715 Old Age Psychiatry 7 4 5 
			 800 Clinical Oncology (previously Radiotherapy) 79 94 75 
			 811 Interventional Radiology 14 18 9 
			 812 Diagnostic Imaging — 1 2 
			 822 Chemical Pathology — — 2 
		
	
	The number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) for patients resident in Scotland and treated in English Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, where the primary diagnosis was Cancer for 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is set out in the following table.
	It should be noted this is not the number of patients because a patient may have had more than one episode of care within the time period.
	
		
			  FAE 
			 2010-11 391 
			 2011-12 493 
			 2012-13 399

Out-patients: Attendance

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the cost of missed NHS appointments in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and Humber in the last year.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has not made an estimate of the cost of missed national health service appointments.

Ovarian Cancer

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS England on commissioning BRCA1/2 gene testing for women with ovarian cancer.

Jane Ellison: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and NHS England on commissioning BRCA1/2 gene testing for women with ovarian cancer. However, NHS England advises that this issue has recently been put to its specialised gynaecology Clinical Reference Group. The National Clinical Director for Cancer has asked the Group to scope out what the issues are in order to inform NHS England.

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2014, Official Report, column 278W, on the Royal Sussex County Hospital, what progress has been made with the review of the outline business case for the release of funding for the 3Ts redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Outline Business Case for the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County hospital is being considered by the Department, the NHS Trust Development Authority and HM Treasury. This review is at an advanced stage and a decision is expected in the near future.

Tuberculosis

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the need for a national prevention strategy for TB.

Jane Ellison: Tuberculosis (TB) rates have stabilised in the United Kingdom over the past seven years, following the increase in the incidence from 1990 to 2005. However, the incidence of TB in the UK remains high compared to most other western European countries. Experience from the United States and many western European countries demonstrates that rigorous TB control programmes can lead to major reductions in TB, and that failure to implement such programmes can lead to widespread transmission.
	The Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for England 2014 to 2019 was launched for consultation at a meeting organised by the All-party Parliamentary Group on TB in Parliament on 24 March 2014. The Strategy aims to learn from successful TB control programmes internationally, and adapt the learning to our specific epidemiological situation and health care structures.
	The focus is to build on the assets already in the national health service and the public health system, to support and strengthen local services in tackling TB in areas of high incidence, to ensure clear lines of accountability and responsibility throughout, and to provide national support for local action.
	These points are addressed in the Collaborative Tuberculosis Strategy for England, to ensure that it is able to achieve its aims of bringing about a year-on-year reduction in TB incidence.
	The Department will continue to support Public Health England in giving national policy leadership, ensuring that there is a co-ordinated approach to TB.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Location

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost is of the relocation of the London headquarters of her Department.

Theresa Villiers: The cost of relocating my Department's London office in 2013 was £1,156,236. The estimated savings as a result of the move are approximately £1 million per year.

World War I: Anniversaries

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings her Department has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about first world war commemorations.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers and officials from the Northern Ireland Office have been in regular contact with the Irish Government about our approach to the first world war centenary, particularly over the course of the last year. This includes planning for joint ministerial attendance at a number of events which will take place in Belfast, Dublin and France over the course of the coming months,
	These contacts have included discussions on how both Governments can work together to mark the wider decade of commemorations in Ireland in a manner which promotes reconciliation and contributes to a peaceful, shared future.
	I recently joined the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to lay the foundation stone for a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin in Dublin to commemorate men from the island of Ireland who gave their lives in both world wars.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Further Education: Higher Education

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure courses equivalent to those on the list of prescribed courses in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 are not excluded from Higher Education Funding Council for England funding by virtue of coming into existence following the introduction of that Act.

David Willetts: Our higher education reforms have transferred money from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) block grant to support Government backed loans which students now use to pay fees at the institution of their choice. The most recent figures show that, for the first time, the majority of HE funding is now determined by the choices students make rather than coming directly from Government. In this context, we have no plans to extend HEFCE's statutory funding remit.
	Students are able to take a range of qualifications for which they can access higher education student support, 24+ advanced learning loans, or professional and career development loans. We are currently looking at a number of options to ensure that we have effective progression pathways to support the development of higher level skills, particularly at levels 4 and 5. This includes having the right supporting funding mechanisms in place to deliver quality and value for money.

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support part-time entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: People are setting up and growing different types of businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.
	The home for Government services and information online is:
	www.gov.uk
	One of the tools available is the ‘Finance Finder;' a searchable database of publicly-backed sources of finance. The website:
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.
	In addition to online support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: Seven loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.

Science: Research

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of funding given by (a) his Department and (b) the public bodies for which he is responsible was used to support scientific research in (a) London, (b) Cambridge, (c) Oxfordshire and (d) Greater Manchester in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what proportion of funding given by (a) his Department and (b) the public bodies for which he is responsible was used to support scientific institutions in (a) London, (b) Cambridge, (c) Oxfordshire and (d) Greater Manchester in each of the last three years.

David Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills supports scientific research via its public bodies. Information on the proportion of research funding they distribute to each of the named areas is not currently held centrally but is being researched. I will place the data in the Libraries of the House as soon as possible.

Students: Loans

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills at what stage in the sell-off process student loans will be defined as currently subject to a sale for the purposes of revaluing impairments.

David Willetts: Student loans are classified as Loans and Receivables and are carried in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts at amortised cost in accordance with International Accounting Standards (IAS 39). Student loans are reviewed annually at the balance sheet date for any objective evidence of impairment, and the value is adjusted as necessary. This is not impacted by the sale process. In accordance with the standard, the classification of student loans will not change following initial recognition. Any gain or loss on disposal will be reported in the annual accounts following sale completion.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 19W, on the electoral register, what measures the Electoral Commission agreed following its meetings with the Department for Work and Pensions, Cabinet Office and other departments on co-operation in electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has highlighted the previous question to the Cabinet Office and suggested that they should discuss the issues referred to in it with the Department for Work and Pensions and is currently awaiting a response.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 20W on the electoral register, whether measurements of the effectiveness of electoral registration officers' implementation of Electoral Commission advice on increasing the number of attainers registered includes changes in the number of attainers registered.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that its monitoring of EROs does not include measuring changes in the number of attainers registered.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 19W, on the electoral register, with which civic society organisations the Electoral Commission is proactively seeking partnerships for the purpose of increasing electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is in the process of contacting a range of organisations, including civic society organisations, and will write to the hon. Member once this is complete with the list of organisations that have signed up.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 20W, on the electoral register, if the Electoral Commission will make a copy of its evaluation of the effectiveness of electoral registration grants available online; and if he will inform the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee once this action is complete.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs that it will arrange for the document to be put on its website and will inform the hon. Member and the Political and Constitutional Committee Clerk when this has happened.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2014, Official Report, columns 18-19W, on the electoral register, in which month of 2014 the statistics on data matching on electoral registration between the Office of National Statistics, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the National Records of Scotland will be published.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it expects to publish a report on England, Wales and Scotland in summer 2014. The timing of the work in Northern Ireland is still the subject of discussions with NISRA. The Electoral Commission will inform the hon. Member when this is confirmed.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, columns 131-3W, on the electoral register, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the reasons for the increase from 8 to 58 in the number of electoral registration officers who failed performance standard 3 between 2010 and 2011.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has previously corresponded with the hon. Member on this issue.
	Within that correspondence the Electoral Commission set out that following its 2010 report assessing the performance of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) it became aware of anecdotal evidence suggesting that for various reasons, including local authority budget reductions, there may have been a greater number of EROs who were not meeting performance standard 3. Therefore, in addition to the 2011 performance standard return, the Commission asked all EROs for the first time to confirm specifically whether or not they carried out a personal canvass of all non-responders and, if not, to provide an explanation as to the reasons why.
	The Commission subsequently requested further data from EROs who had not confirmed that they carried out a personal canvass of all non-responders in order to make a better-informed assessment of performance against performance standard 3. This data included the number of non-responding households that were not contacted by a personal canvasser or by any other method (not including forms and reminders); how many of these households had entries confirmed by other records; and how many of those households had entries that could not be confirmed and were removed.
	Following this process, the Commission revised the assessments of 51 EROs to ‘below' the standard. This meant that, including the seven EROs who originally reported that they did not meet the standard, there were 58 EROs who did not meet this standard in 2011.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 22W, on the Electoral Register, whether the Electoral Commission plans to consider initiating voter national registration days or weeks for UK citizens.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it will consider the hon. Member's suggestions.
	The Commission has previously organised voter registration drives specifically targeting overseas and armed forces voters, but not for widespread domestic registration.
	The Commission is already in discussions with Bite the Ballot, who recently organised a National Voter Registration Day, about how it can help support their work.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, columns 20-1W, on electoral registration, which electoral registration officers and local authorities had the biggest improvement in registering attainers between 2008 and 2013.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not collect data on the number of attainers registered as part of its monitoring of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Through its performance standards framework the Commission monitors whether EROs are encouraging participation in the registration process by having in place an effective and appropriate public awareness strategy and working with partners where appropriate to promote registration.
	The Commission informs me that there has been a significant improvement made by EROs in this area.
	Between 2008 and 2012 the number of EROs meeting or exceeding the standards relating to public awareness and working with partners increased from 34% to 99% and from 67% to 100% respectively.
	The Commission's report on EROs' performance in 2013 will be published at the end of March 2014.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, columns 20-1W, on electoral registration, which local authorities and electoral registration officers the Electoral Commission has identified as pursuing best practice in electoral registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it will write to the hon. Member on this issue alongside its report on EROs' planning and preparedness for IER, including their progress in developing public engagement strategies, at the end of March 2014 and will place a copy in the House Library.

TRANSPORT

A1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a 60 mph speed limit has been introduced on the A1 in both directions south of Offord near Southoe; and whether that limit is (a) temporary or (b) permanent.

Robert Goodwill: A permanent 60 mph speed limit has now been introduced on the A1 trunk road between the B1041 at Little Paxton and the B661 at Buckden, including the bends at Southoe, for safety reasons. This new speed limit, enforced by average speed cameras, is more suited to the alignment of the A1 at this location.
	This section of the A1 has a higher than average collision severity rate, particularly those involving single vehicles. This is partially due to a high number of vehicles exceeding the current 70 mph limit, especially through the sharp bends at Southoe. Problems at this location are also exacerbated by gaps in the central reserve, with vehicles turning across the dual carriageway to access Southoe.

Aviation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airports meet the eligibility criteria for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund; and how much each such airport has been awarded in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two air routes that might qualify for support through a public service obligation under financial provisions announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the 2013 spending round last July, to maintain regional air access to London. Of these, Dundee council is currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee airport and London.
	The Chancellor announced in this year's Budget that support will also be made available for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation state aid guidelines allow for start-up aid to be provided under certain conditions to facilitate development of new routes from member state airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per year.
	The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance clarifying how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union state aid guidelines, and explain how the funding process will operate.

Bus Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the Senior Traffic Commissioner's Statutory Guidance on bus reliability and punctuality.

Stephen Hammond: The Senior Traffic Commissioner's Statutory Document on Local Bus Services has been published for a further period of consultation on 7 April 2014, for six weeks. The document has been revised following responses received during the first consultation. The Senior Traffic Commissioner is aware that the industry is keen for the final document to be introduced. She will review the responses to the second consultation after it closes on 19 May but at this stage can not confirm the planned date of publication.

Bus Services

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total (a) number and (b) value was of financial penalties imposed on bus operators by each of the eight regional traffic commissioners from 2010-11 to date.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			 Penalties issued under Section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 or Section 39 of The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Traffic Area Number of cases Total financial penalty applied (£) Number of cases Total financial penalty applied (£) Number of cases Total financial penalty applied (£) Number of cases Total financial penalty applied (£) 
			 Scotland 15 76,450 2 10,750 1 2,250 2 3,750 
			 North East 1 1,600 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 0 0 4 13,925 1 1213,750 0 0 
			 West Midlands 2 11,900 1 3,300 1 1,200 3 6,050 
			 Wales 4 48,875 2 42,150 0 0 2 9,100 
			 Eastern 0 0 1 2,200 0 0 3 10,450 
			 Western 4 150,160 6 17,110 0 0 0 0 
			 London and South East 4 18,025 2 14,936 0 0 0 0 
			 1 Originally imposed in 2011-12 but amount reduced on appeal by the Upper Tribunal in 2012-13.

Carnforth Station

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent reports he has received on the removal of the Carnforth station platforms from the mainline; what steps he is taking towards their reinstatement; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: The Government have no plans to reinstate platforms on the west coast main line and have not asked for or received any official reports on their reinstatement or removal in the 1960s. It would be for Lancashire county council to determine whether such a scheme is a local priority and this is not the case at the present time.

Driving: Licensing

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment his Department has made of the appropriate age at which people must renew their driving licence; and what evidence his Department took into account when so doing.

Stephen Hammond: Increasing the driving licence renewal age was proposed as part of the recent review of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
	No detailed assessment has yet been made about this proposal. Any such decision would not be taken until a full consultation had been carried out and supporting evidence considered.

Driving: Licensing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new drivers had their licences revoked as a result of insurance offences in each year since 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 requires that drivers who accumulate six or more penalty points during their probationary period will have their licences revoked. The accumulation of offences can be for any reason. The following table shows the number of drivers whose licences were revoked under the New Drivers Act who committed at least one insurance offence:
	
		
			  Number of licences revoked 
			 2010 4,372 
			 2011 5,921 
			 2012 5,897 
			 2013 5,606 
			 2014 (up to 29 March) 1,118 
			 Total 22,914

Offshore Industry: Helicopters

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the helicopter fleet operating in the offshore oil and gas industry is fitted with a side-floating helicopter scheme that is compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority's relevant statutory specifications.

Robert Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.
	The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Offshore Industry: Helicopters

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on passenger survivability in the North Sea of side-floating helicopter schemes that (a) comply and (b) do not comply with the relevant Civil Aviation Authority statutory specifications.

Robert Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.
	The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which commissioned a study that was conducted by Eurocopter and Aerazur. Previous research by both the CAA and the US Federal Aviation Administration has shown that the majority of fatalities following a ditching or water impact event were due to drowning following the capsize of the helicopter. Future requirements for such equipment, which are intended to mitigate the risk of capsize, will be determined by EASA.

Rescue Services: Belfast

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Belfast, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014.

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on eight occasions out of 62 shifts.
	Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Rescue Services: Liverpool

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Liverpool, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014.

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Liverpool Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on eight occasions out of 62 shifts.
	Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Rescue Services: Stornoway

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Stornaway, was staffed at below risk-assessed levels in March 2014.

Stephen Hammond: During March 2014 Stornoway Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) was staffed below risk assessed levels on six occasions out of 62 shifts.
	Where there are specific issues at an MRCC Her Majesty's Coastguard is using the current long established pairing arrangements between MRCCs. This enables each MRCC to be connected to at least one other MRCC which is available to provide mutual support.

Southeastern

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 591W, on Southeastern network, what estimate he has made of demand on routes on the Southeastern network; which routes his Department believes require increased capacity provision on peak services; and when he expects capacity to be increased on these routes.

Stephen Hammond: The Department holds information collected by Southeastern about the level of demand on each of its routes. However, these data are held by DfT on a commercially confidential basis and so cannot be released. As part of its Long Term Planning Process, Network Rail will undertake a Kent Route Study during 2015-16 to identify which routes may require increased capacity provision. On the basis of this work, Ministers will consider priorities for funding capacity enhancements during railway Control Period 6 (2019-2024).

PRIME MINISTER

Royal Mail

David Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his contribution of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 877, what the evidential basis was of his statement that the sale of the Royal Mail was in the manifesto of the last Government.

David Cameron: I was referring to the previous Government's policy of seeking to part-privatise the Royal Mail.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Domestic Violence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had on provision for young women aged 16 to 18 years who have been victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government recognises that young people can be victims of domestic violence and abuse both within the home and in their relationships. That is why in March 2013, we extended the definition of domestic violence and abuse to include 16 and 17 year olds, and coercive control. Our aim in extending the definition is to increase awareness that young people experience domestic violence and abuse, encouraging more of them to come forward and access the support they need. In March 2013, the Home Office also published a guide to assist local areas to consider how the extension to the definition of domestic violence and abuse may impact on their services and identify potential gaps and opportunities for working with 16-17 year olds and how to respond to cases involving young people.
	The coalition Government believes it is important to invite young people to express their views and preferences about policies that are developed for them which is why we have worked with the NSPCC to establish a Young People's Panel. The Panel has met four times since its inception in 2012 and their discussions have fed into policy development around young people and domestic violence. This includes commenting on the guidance for local areas following the change in definition, and reviewing aspects of our media campaigns.
	The Home Office has also launched its Teenage Relationship Abuse and Teenage Rape Prevention campaigns. The aims of the campaigns are to prevent teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of abusive relationships. It will encourage teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse or controlling behaviour in relationships and direct them to places for help and advice. The campaign is aimed at 13 to 18 year old boys in particular.

Driving Offences: Speed Limits

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many drivers who received driving convictions during the two year probationary licence period undertook (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more speed awareness courses in (i) 2010 to 2014 and (ii) 2005 to 2009;
	(2)  how many drivers who received driving convictions undertook (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more speed awareness courses in (i) 2010 to 2014 and (ii) 2005 to 2009.

Karen Bradley: This information is not held centrally. A motorist is prohibited from taking more than one speed awareness course under the national scheme within a three years period from the date of the offence.

Driving: Licensing

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 372W, on driving: licensing, 
	(1)  how many drivers who received driving convictions undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010, in each force area;
	(2)  how many drivers within the two-year probationary period who received driving convictions undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010 (a) in total and (b) by police force area.

Karen Bradley: The number of drivers that opted for a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points on their driving licence in 2010 is 447,833, in 2011 is 772,180, in 2012 is 926,155 and in 2013 is 953,464. These reflect the latest updated figures.
	The following table shows the figures by police force area for the number of drivers that opted for a speed awareness course.
	The offer of a speed awareness course is at the discretion of the police. To be deemed eligible there must be no excessive speed or other offences committed at the same time. Information on previous motoring convictions is not taken into account.
	
		
			 NDORS police force area 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 0 267 38,244 36,064 
			 Bedfordshire Police 6,707 11,440 15,370 12,075 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 17,691 17,301 16,974 9,148 
			 Cheshire 6,066 15,198 16,702 14,490 
			 City of London Police 0 0 0 153 
			 Cleveland Police 8,278 12,147 10,282 7,198 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 11,967 18,436 19,878 20,218 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 5,657 9,275 14,385 12,666 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 8,720 13,516 17,959 16,608 
			 Dorset Police 0 0 0 0 
			 Durham Constabulary 0 1,436 4,517 4,267 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 100 1,158 1,229 1,870 
			 Essex Police 0 8,113 21,957 22,605 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 937 2,317 4,573 5,445 
			 Greater Manchester Police 39,959 45,639 49,463 45,064 
			 Gwent Police 1 39 34 6 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 0 0 0 36,986 
		
	
	
		
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 8,128 14,802 23,700 20,216 
			 Humberside Police 0 0 15,499 29,791 
			 Kent County Police 3,430 23,787 31,790 27,446 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 13,082 24,949 22,491 27,287 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 14,262 16,055 17,381 16,292 
			 Lincolnshire Police 4,054 18,083 25,595 19,223 
			 Merseyside Police 10,923 15,683 17,964 20,022 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 0 9,034 31,818 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 11,665 16,054 17,054 23,527 
			 North Wales Police 16,843 15,141 16,069 17,711 
			 North Yorkshire Police 3,332 6,768 9,855 18,049 
			 Northamptonshire Police 6,671 14,944 11,444 12,520 
			 Northumbria Police 28,452 28,195 39,707 40,892 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 15,615 21,728 24,217 25,060 
			 Police Service Northern Ireland 9,294 19,582 27,020 27,320 
			 Scotland 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales Police 29,587 58,025 55,573 51,182 
			 South Yorkshire Police 14,453 35,040 27,698 28,035 
			 Staffordshire Police 16,040 21,205 25,354 27,987 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 15,507 27,019 20,122 22,461 
			 Surrey Police 4,604 17,845 25,349 23,107 
			 Sussex Police 6,194 28,589 33,425 22,328 
			 Thames Valley Police 48,859 73,625 87,199 78,593 
			 Warwickshire Police 3,584 6,577 6,350 17,482 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 31,347 44,094 41,416 34,277 
			 West Midlands Police 2,879 21,033 20,603 14,551 
			 West Yorkshire Police 22,945 47,075 42,679 31,424 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 447,833 772,180 926,155 953,464

Driving: Licensing

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2014, Official Report, column 372W, on driving: licensing, how many drivers who received driving convictions within their two year probation period undertook speed awareness courses in each year since 2010.
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of speed awareness courses; and what information her Department collects on speeding and driving offences committed by drivers who have undertaken such a course.

Karen Bradley: The number of drivers that opted for a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points on their driving licence in 2010 is 447,833, in 2011 is 772,180, 2012 is 926,155 and in 2013 is 953,464. These reflect the latest updated figures.
	The offer of a speed awareness course is at the discretion of the police. To be deemed eligible there must be no excessive speed or other offences committed at the same time. Information on previous motoring convictions is not taken into account.
	The Department for Transport and the police are in advanced stages of commissioning a long term study to assess the effectiveness of speed awareness courses.

Hillsborough Stadium

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what deadline she has provided to chief constables by which they must hand over any evidence to the Independent Police Complaints Commission in relation to Hillsborough.[Official Report, 7 May 2014, Vol. 580, c. 1-2MC.]

Karen Bradley: The Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), wrote to all chief constables on 4 March 2014 to request that all police forces search their records to establish whether they possess any material that relates to the Hillsborough tragedy. The Minister asked if this could be completed by 4 April 2014 and asked that every police force responds, even if it is to record a nil response.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will arrange for the hon. Member for Walsall North to receive a reply to her letter to the interim chief executive, HM Passport Office of 27 February 2014 on behalf of a constituent.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office replied to the hon. Member on 4 April 2014.

Police Custody: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will redraft the code governing detention of teenagers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to ensure that 17 year olds in custody are treated as teenagers by the police.

Karen Bradley: Following the High Court ruling in the judicial review HC v. (1) Secretary of State for the Home Department and (2) Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, the Government made changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice C & H, which govern the treatment of detained persons in police custody. The changes, which came into effect on 21 October 2013, have the effect of requiring the police to treat 17-year-olds in police custody as children by providing, as a matter of course, Appropriate Adults and to inform a person responsible for the welfare of the 17-year-old of their detention. These changes are mandatory.
	I refer the hon. Member to a statement made by the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), on 21 October 2013, Official Report, columns 4-6WS, explaining these changes.

Police: Complaints

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to allow the IPCC to consider complaints regarding police conduct from third parties.

Karen Bradley: Section 12 of the Police Reform Act 2002 sets out who can complain to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). A person can be considered as having been authorised to act on behalf of another for the purposes of making a complaint if he or she has, and is able to produce, written consent from that other person.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Combined Heat and Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of combined heat and power plans delivering more than 10% of input energy as heat output.

Gregory Barker: In 2013, the Government reviewed the minimum performance standards for renewable combined heat and power (CHP) set in our Quality Assurance programme. As set out in the Government response, approximately 70% of solid and liquid renewable fuel CHP schemes already certified to Combined Heat and Power Quality and Assurance (CHPQA) deliver more than 10% of their input energy as useful heat output.
	No similar assessment has been made for fossil fuel CHPs.

Energy Companies Obligation

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of his proposed changes to energy company obligation funding on families in fuel poverty who were in flood risk areas.

Gregory Barker: The impact of the proposed changes to the Energy Company Obligation was estimated in the Assessment of Impacts published alongside the consultation document on 5 March:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-of-the-energy-company-obligation
	No specific estimate was made for those fuel poor families specifically living areas of flood risk.
	The Department of Energy and Climate Change intends to complete a full Impact Assessment as part of the Government's response to the consultation later in the year.

Energy Companies Obligation

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his proposed changes to the energy company obligation will reduce funding availability for flood-risk homes which are automatically defined as hard-to-treat.

Gregory Barker: Homes at risk of flooding are not automatically defined as having hard-to-treat cavity walls, however flood-risk homes with hard-to-treat cavity walls are eligible for funding under the energy company obligation. Proposed changes to the scheme will enable more homes to receive funding for energy efficiency measures, including those homes that are at risk of flooding.

Energy Supply

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what forecast he has made of the effect of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve on the Loss of Load Expectation for winter 2014-15.

Gregory Barker: The Government have not made any forecast of the effect of the Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR) on the Loss of Load Expectation for winter 2014-15.
	SBR is one of National Grid's two new balancing services, approved by Ofgem in December 2013. SBR and the Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) will address potential capacity shortfalls in the middle of the decade.
	National Grid is currently developing a methodology to determine how much capacity should be contracted via SBR. Once this is approved by Ofgem, National Grid will proceed with the procurement process.

Energy: Multiple Occupation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions for the uprating of homes in multiple occupation to energy performance Band E he plans to include in his Department's consultation on the implementation of clause 43 of the Energy Act 2011.

Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 802W.

Housing: Insulation

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many with the homes with hard-to-treat cavity walls and which require insulation measures are situated in flood risk areas.

Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold information on how many of homes that are considered to have hard to treat cavity walls are situated in flood risk areas.

Renewable Energy

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely impact on investment in renewable energy of changes to the Enterprise Investment Scheme to remove tax breaks for companies benefiting from the renewable obligations.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	Budget 2014 announced that companies benefiting from renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) and/or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will be excluded from the venture capital schemes, including the enterprise investment scheme.
	This change ensures the venture capital schemes continue to support smaller and growing businesses in a targeted and effective way. The Government consulted extensively with stakeholders when similar action was taken to exclude companies benefiting from feed-in tariffs from the venture capital schemes in 2011.
	Further information on the detail of the change will be published shortly, ahead of the publication of an impact assessment and legislation.

EDUCATION

London Academy of Excellence

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, column 356W, on London Academy of Excellence, whether the enrolment data for 2013-14 for the London Academy of Excellence are now available; and if he will publish that data.

Edward Timpson: The London Academy of Excellence is the only 16-19 free school that provides data on its pupil numbers through the individualised learner record; this is the equivalent to the school's census return for further education institutions.
	The enrolment numbers requested are not yet available. We are expecting to have them by the end of April.
	The pupil numbers and funding covering all open academies and free schools for the academic year 2014/15 will be published in October. This will include the London Academy of Excellence.

Primary Education: Admissions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will amend the School Admissions Code to allow primary schools' admission arrangements to give priority to pupils attending a primary school's own nursery. [R]

David Laws: I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 905W, to the hon. Member for Enfield North (Nick de Bois).

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools in Rossendale and Darwen have received funding from the pupil premium; and how many pupils in each such school have attracted such payments.

David Laws: In financial year 2013-14, 52 schools in Rossendale and Darwen received a pupil premium allocation. A list of these schools and the number of eligible pupils are provided in the following table. In addition to the main deprivation pupil premium, schools receive allocations for looked after children and service children, though this information is not available at school level due to data protection issues. More information on pupil premium allocations for financial year 2013-14 can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocation-tables
	
		
			 School name Total number of pupils eligible for the deprivation pupil premium 
			 Britannia Community Primary School 33 
			 Northern Primary School 14 
			 Bacup St Saviour's Community Primary School 28 
			 Sharneyford Primary School 15 
			 Bacup Thorn Primary School 122 
			 Helmshore Primary School 25 
			 Ramsbottom Stubbins Primary School 20 
			 Rawtenstall Water Primary School 8 
			 Waterfoot Primary School 69 
			 Tonacliffe Primary School 60 
			 Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School 89 
			 Crawshawbooth Primary School 34 
			 Rawtenstall St Paul's Constable Lee Church of England Primary School 51 
			 St Mary's Rawtenstall Church of England Primary School 59 
			 St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School 56 
			 Edenfield Church of England Primary School 13 
			 Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School 52 
			 Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School 99 
			 Rawtenstall St Anne's Church of England Primary School, Edgeside 53 
			 St Veronica's Roman Catholic Primary School, Helmshore 18 
			 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Stacksteads, Bacup 52 
			 St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School, Bacup 74 
			 St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Newchurch 31 
			 St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall 15 
			 St John with St Michael Church of England Primary School, Shawforth 31 
			 Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth 19 
			 Alder Grange Community and Technology School 168 
			 Fearns Community Sports College 247 
			 Whitworth Community High School 124 
			 All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, Rossendale 141 
			 Belthorn Primary School 23 
			 Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School 36 
			 Rawtenstall Cribden House Community Special School 1— 
			 The Sunnyhurst Centre 1— 
			 Lower Darwen Primary School 30 
			 Turton Belmont Community Primary School 2— 
			 Avondale Primary School 126 
			 Sudell Primary School 96 
		
	
	
		
			 Holy Trinity VC School 134 
			 Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School 9 
			 Hoddlesden St Paul's Church of England Primary School 12 
			 Darwen St Barnabas Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School 30 
			 Darwen St James' Church of England Primary School 96 
			 Darwen St Peter's Church of England Primary School 83 
			 St Stephen's Tockholes CofE Primary School 2— 
			 St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School 78 
			 St Edward's Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn 31 
			 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Darwen 25 
			 Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary 75 
			 Darwen Vale High School 376 
			 Ashleigh Primary School 43 
			 Darwen Aldridge Community Academy 361 
			 1 Pupil numbers for these schools are not included as they are either a maintained special school, special academy, pupil referral unit (PRU) or alternative provision (AP) academy. The premium for these establishments may be held with the local authority (please see the conditions of grant). 2 Schools with less than five pupils or a percentage based on less than five pupils or an allocation amount based on less than five pupils have had their figures suppressed for data protection.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biodiversity

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Report HC 1195 published on 26 March 2014, what the forecasted costs and savings are under each cost heading for planning authorities of implementing the biodiversity offsetting proposals over a five year period.

Dan Rogerson: The consultation paper “Biodiversity Offsetting in England”, published on 5 September 2013, set out a number of options for taking forward offsetting in England. The accompanying impact assessment (DEFRA 1126) set out the available financial information. However, the costs and benefits to each sector would vary according to the system of offsetting which was adopted. In keeping with the Environmental Audit Committee's recommendations, the Government will not take any policy decisions on offsetting until the assessment of the six pilots is available.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding the need for a vaccine for bovine TB; and if he will make a statement.

George Eustice: We have received representations on all aspects of tackling bovine TB, including vaccination for cattle and badgers, from a very wide range of stakeholders. The role that cattle and badger vaccination can play in eradicating bovine TB is outlined in our comprehensive Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free status for England.

Climate Change

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 31 March 2014 on Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the Met Office report, Too Hot, Too Cold, Too Wet, Too Dry: Drivers and impacts of seasonal weather in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Both of these reports make a valuable contribution to our understanding of the impacts of climate change. We are considering them with keen interest and will take full account of them when we publish the UK's next Climate Change Risk Assessment, which in turn will inform the next National Adaptation Programme report.

Common Agricultural Policy

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on its programme of cinema advertising to promote the Common Agricultural Policy.

George Eustice: No such discussions have taken place.

Dogs: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances of Alabama Rot there have been in dogs in the UK.

George Eustice: Alabama Rot is the name commonly being given to the newly emerged condition in dogs, known by its clinical and pathological description as ‘Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy’.
	Whilst this new condition, which appears seasonally, seems very similar to Alabama Rot, we do not know that they have the same cause.
	Investigation into this condition is being led by vets at a referral small animal veterinary practice and at the world renowned research organisation, the Animal Health Trust. These vets have expertise specifically in small animal medical cases. As such the veterinary practice, Anderson Moore, is best placed to update on the number of confirmed and suspect cases. The practice informed the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency on the 27 March that 14 cases have been confirmed between December 2013 and March 2014. This is in addition to 14 cases confirmed between December 2012 and March 2013.

Flood Control

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether parish councils and town councils are eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid is only available to a risk management authority, as defined by section 6(13) of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. If a parish council or town council wish to progress a flood management scheme they should contact the lead local flood authority for the area.

Fossil Fuels

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expertise the Environment Agency has on (a) onshore oil and gas exploration, (b) fracking, (c) the disposal of waste products including fugitive emissions resulting from onshore oil and gas exploration and (d) safety management of oil and gas drilling including well casing.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has been regulating the existing onshore oil and gas industry for many years and has extensive experience and expertise in this area.
	The Environment Agency has been developing its approach to the regulation of the unconventional oil and gas sector for more than two years. It uses its extensive knowledge of regulating the existing onshore oil and gas industry, and environmental regulation more generally, to regulate this emerging industry. The Agency has undertaken a full assessment of the risks and learnt from experience in other countries.
	The Environment Agency regulates the management of waste, including fugitive emissions, under the Mining Waste Directive. Operators must develop and submit a Waste Management Plan with their permit application. They must set out how they will minimise waste and dispose of it safely. Environment Agency staff have extensive experience of regulating waste management activities at other sites, including the active management of landfill gas.
	The Health and Safety Executive regulates the health and safety risks to people from oil and gas drilling.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of the Environment Agency's budget he proposes will be spent on its role as the regulator for fracking in England and Wales in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency does not record separately the regulatory costs of hydraulic fracturing in England. For 2014-15 the Environment Agency has allocated £2.6 million to its work on regulating onshore oil and gas. This is 0.39% of the Environment Agency's total revenue budget.
	Budgets for 2015-16 and 2016-17 have not yet been confirmed.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inspectors the Environment Agency employs to carry out checks on fracking sites in England and Wales.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has nine inspectors and two team leaders who have particular knowledge in onshore oil and gas production facilities in England. These inspectors form part of an Onshore Oil and Gas Sector Group. As and when hydraulic fracturing or other unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities become operational, the regulation of these sites will fall to this group. The membership of the group reflects the geographical distribution of the oil and gas extraction industry. If the industry expands, the size of the sector group will expand to reflect this.
	Sites in Wales are regulated by Natural Resources Wales.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much notice the Environment Agency is required to give to companies ahead of inspections of fracking sites in England and Wales.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency does not need to give companies operating hydraulic fracturing sites in England any notice of inspections and can make unannounced visits.
	Sites in Wales are regulated by Natural Resources Wales.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether approval will be given for fracking sites on flood plains; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency has made on the potential for flood risk at UK fracking sites; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: For surface installations required for borehole construction and hydraulic fracturing, the Environment Agency is a statutory adviser in the planning process. Where appropriate, it will require flood risk assessments. It may object to developments if flood risk is unacceptable or require conditions on how the site is constructed and operated to mitigate flood risk, through flood consents.

Fracking

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential risks fracking pose to livestock; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson: Our regulatory framework is robust and provides stringent environmental safeguards which will protect both humans and animals.

Gulls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support he is providing for local authorities to address issues caused by high gull populations.

George Eustice: Local authorities in England may lethally control gulls or disrupt their nests or eggs, in accordance with licences issued by Natural England for certain purposes. Without a licence, they can also take action to manage gulls by controlling the availability of food by efficiently managing waste (including introducing byelaws to stop intentional feeding of gulls, should they wish) and preventing gulls from landing, roosting or nesting on buildings. DEFRA does not provide specific support for such measures but Natural England offers free advice to those experiencing problems with gulls.

Pathology: Laboratories

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Royal College of Pathologists on the effects on human and animal safety of reductions in the number of national pathology laboratories from 14 to 7; and if he will publish the impact assessment produced by his Department on such a plan.

George Eustice: Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and DEFRA have met with the Royal College of Pathologists to discuss the new Surveillance model on four separate occasions between September 2012 and the introduction of changes to the Surveillance model on 1 April 2014.
	A formal impact assessment was not required for this work because it does not involve a change in regulation. Submission into the scanning surveillance system is a voluntary activity that has no regulatory aspect. However the ‘Changes to the delivery of Veterinary Scanning Surveillance in England and Wales, December 2013' document published on the AHVLA website does consider the impact of the changes, recognises that there are negative impacts (e.g. some farms will be further from an AHVLA Post Mortem facility) but concludes that these are outweighed by the benefit of having stronger national centres of excellence and a better coordinated network of support from private practices.

Slaughterhouses

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the reporting of the mis-stunning of animals before slaughter by the Food Standards Agency to ensure that the way in which the data are collected provides as accurate a picture as possible of the real situation.

George Eustice: Official veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency report centrally all cases of non-compliances with the welfare at slaughter regulations. This data provide an accurate picture of welfare breaches at slaughterhouses.
	The welfare at time of killing regulations will come into force next month and we will keep the effectiveness of monitoring and enforcement at slaughterhouses under review.

Waste Disposal: Fires

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fires were reported at privately-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

Dan Rogerson: Environment Agency records show that there were a total of 595 incidents of fire reported at privately operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 18 privately operated sites.

Waste Disposal: Fires

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fires were reported at local authority-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

Dan Rogerson: Environment Agency records show that there were a total of five incidents of fire reported at local authority-operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 110 local authority-operated waste management sites.

Water Charges

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage change there has been in the average cost of a water bill in each year since 2011.

Dan Rogerson: Water prices in England and Wales are reviewed by the independent economic regulator Ofwat every five years. Water prices for the 2010 to 2015 period were set in Ofwat's 2009 water price review.
	The percentage change in the average cost (in real prices) of a combined water and sewerage bill in England and Wales during the 2010-15 period is as follows: -0.6% (2010-11), 0.2% (2011-12), -0.1% (2012-13). The forecast for 2013-14 is 0.5% and for 2014-15 around 2%. The changes year on year usually relate to the profile of water industry investment agreed in the 2009 price review. For 2014-15, water companies are taking steps to hold customer bills down and in some cases are giving up price increases that were allowed for in 2009.
	Ofwat's 2014 water price review is now under way and will determine water prices for the 2015 to 2020 period. Most water companies are proposing flat or declining bills from 2015.

Water Charges

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the water industry to discuss the cost of water bills.

Dan Rogerson: The Secretary of State discussed the cost of water bills when he met water industry representatives in July 2013. He emphasised the need to secure the best deal possible for customers while continuing to attract essential investment in the long-term resilience of the sector. He sent a follow up letter in November 2013.
	As the independent economic regulator for the water industry, Ofwat reviews water prices every five years. Securing a fair balance between the needs of water companies and their customers is central to Ofwat's approach to the price review.
	Water companies have now submitted their business plans to Ofwat to inform the 2014 price review. The plans set out how they intend to meet their obligations to customers and the environment during the 2015 to 2020 period. Most water companies are proposing flat or declining bills from 2015.
	Water UK has also announced that most water companies will be holding bills below the rate of inflation in 2014-15, the final year of the price and investment package agreed in 2009.

WORK AND PENSIONS

European Social Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of recent social and employment programmes financed through the European Social Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The European Social Fund supports a range of activities to help unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their employment prospects and skills. These activities expand or enhance the support provided by national and local programmes. Recent activities are being evaluated by a number of research studies and a cohort survey of participants. Reports on these will be published during 2014 and 2015.

Housing Benefit

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of how much each local authority returned to his Department in unused discretionary housing payment funding in 2013-14.

Steve Webb: Local authorities are required to submit their claims for funding for discretionary housing payments by 30 April following the end of the financial year.
	Until the returns have been received from each authority, we are not in a position to say how much of this funding has been unused.
	At the end of the 2012/13 year, of the £67,906,916 made available by central Government towards discretionary housing payments, £12,453,471 (18.34%) was unspent.

Housing Benefit

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people classed as homeless will be defined as vulnerable under the proposed mechanism within universal credit to pay housing benefit directly to landlords.

Steve Webb: We do not want to automatically label any claimant as financially incapable. Alternative payment arrangements (including payments to landlords) are assessed on their individual merits. The nature of the accommodation status of a claimant is one of a number of factors to be considered when assessing the necessity for an alternative payment arrangement, and this is set out in the operating guidance we published in February last year.

Housing Benefit

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which categories of people will be defined as vulnerable in relation to facilitating housing benefit payments direct to landlords under universal credit.

Steve Webb: We do not want to label categories of claimants as financially incapable. The guidance for alternative payment arrangements, published last year, lists a number of elements which should be considered. These factors are assessed on a case-by-case basis to inform a decision as to whether an alternative payment arrangement is needed and if so for what period.

Industrial Health and Safety

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence his Department has collected on public perception of health and safety regulation.

Michael Penning: Reviews of health and safety regulation carried out for the Government by Lord Young and by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, and endorsed in Health and Safety Executive recent triennial review, found a near universal agreement that the UK legal framework is fit for purpose. However, there does exist some misunderstanding about what H&S legislation actually requires.
	Partly in response to this, the Health and Safety Executive's myth busters challenge panel allows the public to challenge decisions and policies ascribed to health and safety if they believe them to be incorrect.
	To date the panel has considered more than 270 cases. Details can be found at
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm

Internet

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costs his Department has incurred in the development, promotion, monitoring and evaluation of the Sorting out Separation web app to date; and what budget his Department assigned for the future promotion, updating, monitoring and redesign of that web app.

Steve Webb: The costs of the Sorting out Separation web app are £417,500 to date. This includes initial build, maintenance and development, hosting and promotion. It also includes the costs of the development of the diagnosis tool and the videos hosted on Sorting out Separation.
	The Department is in the process of considering the future direction of the Sorting out Separation web app and will shortly be taking steps to improve the profile of the app through search engine optimisation.

Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where each Jobcentre Plus office is in Scotland; when each office opened; and how many people have used each such office in each year since 2010.

Esther McVey: There are 94 jobcentres in Scotland. A full list of these jobcentres is provided at annex 1.
	We do not keep a record of when each office opened, so I am unable to supply you with this information.
	There are no official statistics which would provide you with the number of people who have used each office in each year since 2010. Many people, some of whom are already employed, use the jobpoints or intranet access devices in our jobcentres but may not make a claim to benefit or register as unemployed. It would therefore be impossible to provide you with the total number of people using the jobcentres.
	Annex 1
	List of jobcentres in Scotland
	East and South East Scotland
	Alloa JC
	Bathgate JC
	Broxburn JC
	Cowdenbeath JC
	Cupar JC
	Dalkeith JC
	Dunfermline JC
	Edinburgh City
	Eyemouth JC
	Falkirk JC
	Galashiels JC
	Glenrothes JC
	Grangemouth JC
	Hawick JC
	High Riggs JC
	Kirkcaldy JC
	Leith JC
	Leven JC
	Livingston JC
	Musselburgh JC
	Penicuik JC
	St Andrews
	Stirling JC
	Westerhailes JC.
	Glasgow, Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire
	Airdrie JC
	Anniesland JC
	Bellshill JC
	Bridgeton JC
	Cambuslang JC
	Castlemilk JC
	Cumbernauld JC
	Drumchapel JC
	East Kilbride JC
	Easterhouse JC
	Govan JC
	Hamilton JC
	Kirkintilloch JC
	Lanark JC
	Langside JC
	Laurieston JC
	Maryhill JC
	Motherwell JC
	Newlands JC
	Parkhead JC
	Partick JC
	Rutherglen JC
	Shettleston JC
	Springburn JC.
	North of Scotland District
	Aberdeen JC
	Arbroath JC
	Banff JC
	Blairgowrie JC
	Buckie JC
	Dingwall JC
	Dundee City JC
	Elgin JC
	Forfar JC
	Forres JC
	Fort William JC
	Fraserburgh JC
	Invergordon JC
	Inverness JC
	Kirkwall JC
	Lerwick JC
	Montrose JC
	Perth JC
	Peterhead JC
	Portree JC
	Stornoway JC
	Wick JC.
	West of Scotland District
	Alexandria JC
	Annan JC
	Ayr JC
	Barrhead JC
	Campbeltown JC
	Clydebank JC
	Cumnock JC
	Dumbarton JC
	Dumfries JC
	Dunoon JC
	Girvan JC
	Greenock JC
	Helensburgh JC
	Irvine JC
	Johnstone JC
	Kilbirnie JC
	Kilmarnock JC
	Oban JC
	Paisley JC
	Port Glasgow JC
	Renfrew JC
	Rothesay JC
	Saltcoats JC
	Stranraer JC.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form for the week of 25 December 2013 to 1 January 2014.

Esther McVey: Published data on sanctions are currently available up to 30 September 2013, with the next scheduled release in May 2014.
	Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full-time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.

Personal Independence Payment

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans he has to penalise companies who have failed to carry out medical assessments for personal independence payments in a timely manner;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the reasons for backlogs of medical assessments for personal independence payments;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to address backlogs of medical assessments for personal independence payments;
	(4)  what time limit he has set for medical assessments for personal independence payments;
	(5)  what compensation is available to those suffering financial hardship as a result of failure to carry out assessments for personal independence payments in a timely manner.

Michael Penning: We are committed to ensuring personal independence payment (PIP) claimants receive high- quality, objective, fair and accurate assessments. Since the introduction of PIP new claims in April 2013, we have been closely monitoring all aspects of the process.
	As personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit, processes are currently bedding in. Our latest analysis is telling us that the end-to-end claimant journey is taking longer than expected. We are working closely with the assessment providers to ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to improve performance, speed up the process and ensure claimants receive a satisfactory experience. We are also seeking to ensure that all the steps in the process run as smoothly as possible and that there are no barriers in our processes and systems that contribute to claims taking longer than necessary to progress.
	While there are no statutory (legal) requirements to complete action on a claim to PIP within a specified time, we have set both personal independence payment assessment providers a target for the length of time to complete assessments of 30 working days.
	Any delays experienced in the new claims process will not affect the date from which claimants are paid; all successful claims will be paid from the date the claim was initially made or the date the qualifying period is met, whichever is the later.
	As for the administration of all benefits, a claimant is free to complain about the service they have received from the Department for Work and Pensions. Complaints about the service received from our assessment providers should be made direct to the relevant assessment provider. A complaint may result in a special payment if the claimant has experienced unfair treatment or suffered financially.
	The Department has robust expectations for provider performance, and contracts include a full set of service level agreements setting out expectations for service delivery, including quality of assessments and the number of days to provide advice to the Department. Officials meet regularly with both assessment providers to discuss performance. The contracts include a range of remedies, and failure to meet contractual obligations will result in the Department applying service credits in line with the contract.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the DS1500 form and the date of receipt of the first payment after an assessment by each assessment provider;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the PIP2 form and the date of the face-to-face PIP assessment from each assessment provider;
	(3)  what the average waiting time for applicants for the personal independence payment (PIP) in each region of the UK is between submission of the PIP2 form and the date of receipt of the first payment after an assessment from each assessment provider.

Michael Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg), on 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 850W.
	In order to manage the gap between personal independence payment go-live and the first release of official statistics in spring 2014, we are assessing whether we can release some further information. If the quality assurance of this information shows that it is sufficiently robust and reliable then we will publish it via ad-hoc statistical releases.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2014, Official Report, column 318W on the personal independence payment, what assumptions have been made by his Department while preparing the budget for the personal independence payment scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of people who will receive the (a) enhanced and (b) standard rate mobility component of the personal independence payment in (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16 and (iii) 2016-17.

Michael Penning: The latest forecasts of benefit expenditure on personal independence payment (PIP) were published on 27 of March 2014.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2014
	The expenditure estimates are determined by the migration timetable for reassessment and the distribution of new awards between the different rates, including nil awards. The other key input is the monetary value of the standard and enhanced rate of each component of PIP, which are set at the equivalent DLA rates.
	The following table shows estimates of the number of people aged 16 to 64 who will be eligible for the standard and enhanced rate of mobility of personal independence payment in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. These estimates are consistent with autumn statement 5 December 2013, Official Report, columns 1101-1113 forecasts. They will be updated in due course.
	
		
			 Personal independence payment caseload, aged 16-64 
			  2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 
			 Standard rate of mobility 120,000 250,000 430,000 
			 Enhanced rate of mobility 100,000 220,000 390,000 
			 Source: DWP modelling. Estimates are annual averages and have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.

Social Security Benefits

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many requests for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision have been submitted since mandatory reconsideration came into effect on 28 October 2013;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for a decision for a reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision has been since 28 October 2013;
	(3)  what the average waiting time for a decision for a reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision has been since 28 October 2013;
	(4)  how many requests for reconsideration of an employment and support allowance decision have been subject to a decision since 28 October 2013;
	(5)  how many requests for reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision have been made since 28 October 2013;
	(6)  how many requests for reconsideration of a jobseeker's allowance decision have been subject to a decision made since 28 October 2013.

Michael Penning: While mandatory reconsideration data are being collected, they are not sufficiently robust and reliable to make available.
	The Department is looking into what can be published. The data will need to be validated in order to ensure that they satisfy the relevant standards.

Social Security Benefits: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of changes in the number of nationals of other EU countries accessing benefits in the Peterborough city council area following changes to (a) the habitual residence test and (b) the minimum earnings threshold; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: The Department does not currently hold this information.
	While we check the immigration status of benefit claimants to ensure the benefit is paid properly and to prevent fraud, traditionally that information has not been collected as part of the payment administrative systems.
	However, the Government are looking at ways to reform the current administrative system under universal credit that will record nationality and immigration status of migrants who make a claim.

Telephone Services

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's proposed Help and Support for Separated Families co-ordinated telephone network is in place; and what processes his Department has put in place to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness in promoting collaborative parenting in the interests of children.

Steve Webb: The HSSF initiative has funded four organisations which provide telephone support for separating and separated families so that their agents can be trained in delivering appropriate messages about the benefits of collaborative parenting. These organisations are: Relate; Family Lives; the National Youth Advocacy Service; and Wikivorce.
	Representatives from all participating organisations have received tailored training and they are now cascading that training to their agents. We expect full roll-out by the end of April 2014.
	We are currently considering a variety of evaluation approaches, including call listening, mystery shopping exercises and a satisfaction survey.

Work Programme

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost of paying a second attachment fee for each person who is transferred from Newcastle College to new providers of the Work programme.

Esther McVey: The information is not available as it is too early in the procurement process.

Work Programme: North West

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of former jobseeker's allowance claimants moving into work from the Work programme in the Merseyside, Halton, Cumbria and Lancashire contract area started work on (a) a full-time, (b) a part-time, (c) a zero hours and (d) an apprenticeship contract.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics suggest that most job opportunities being created in the recovery are full-time and permanent. The number of people in work has risen by more than 450,000 in the last year. Within this full-time employment has risen by 430,000 and part-time employment by 29,000, while the number of people in temporary jobs has fallen, meaning the vast majority of the rise is full-time and permanent jobs.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in (i) Peterborough constituency and (ii) North West Cambridgeshire constituency since May 2010.

Kris Hopkins: The Homes and Communities Agency publishes information every six months about the number of affordable housing starts on site and completions for programmes it funds, broken down by local authority district. This information is not available by parliamentary constituency. The published information can be found at:
	http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/housing-statistics
	These statistics do not include information on any affordable housing that has not been reported to the Homes and Communities Agency, such as some affordable housing funded solely through developer contributions.
	Over 170,000 new affordable homes have been delivered in England since April 2010 (to the end of September 2013). Our Affordable Homes Programme will lever in £19.5 billion of public and private investment over the current spending review period. Over 2015-18, we will be investing a further £23 billion in public and private funding for affordable housing.

Council Tax

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities who will hold a referendum as a result of raising council tax by two per cent or more for 2014-15.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 3 April 2014
	The DCLG statistical release of 26 March 2014 showing the levels of council tax set by local authorities in England for 2014-2015 is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-tax-levels-set-by-local-authorities-in-england-2014-to-2015
	It shows that no local authority in England is required to hold a council tax referendum in 2014-15 (table 11).

Council Tax

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what average weekly sum in council tax is now due from people whose liability for this tax was previously entirely met through council tax benefit.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 7 April 2014
	We do not collect this information centrally. These are local schemes, and it is for local authorities to ensure that the effect on specific groups of council tax payers is proportionate and fair.
	Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year-equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last Administration. Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people into work. We are ending the last Administration's 'something for nothing' culture and making work pay.

Housing: Prices

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made in introducing a pilot scheme for compensating households affected by house price depreciation near large infrastructure developments; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Boles: At the Budget, we announced that we will launch a Government funded, staged pilot for passing a share of the benefits of development directly to individual households.
	Our development benefits pilot is not a direct compensation scheme associated with housing price depreciation near large infrastructure developments. Rather than households bringing forward claims for compensation, we are testing a model where the benefits of housing development are directly shared with households in the local area. This would be in the form of financial payments according to a fixed formula.
	Work is under way to develop the scheme, including further research and evaluation of the approach, and we expect to ask for expressions of interest for pilot schemes later this year.

Local Government

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of local councillors who will resign as a result of new arrangements to allow the press and public to film local authority public meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: None. Council meetings are public meetings which already can be reported by the press. We are merely reforming the access rules to allow the press and public to report such meetings through digital and social media. It will help bring greater awareness of the good work that councillors do for their local communities.
	I would observe that the cause of openness in council meetings was championed by Margaret Thatcher, in her maiden speech to this House. As a Back Bencher, she successfully introduced a Private Members' Bill—the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960—to open up meetings to the press and public, spurred on by the practice of the print unions getting Labour councillors to kick out journalists from council meetings who had crossed picket lines.
	While that the 1960 Act did not expressly permit filming, I note from perusing the Bill Committee Hansard that Mrs Thatcher was firmly of the view that broadcast journalists should have the same rights as other members of the press and public (Official Report, Standing Committee C, 13 April 1960). We are updating those analogue rights for a digital age.

Non-domestic Rates

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the extent to which firms in each region will be economically disadvantaged as a result of the Government's decision to delay the revaluation of business rates; and if he will publish a list of firms likely to be so disadvantaged.

Brandon Lewis: The Valuation Office Agency published its high-level estimates of the impacts of a revaluation in 2015 on 12 November 2012. Its analysis suggests that around 800,000 premises would have seen a real terms increase in their rates at a 2015 revaluation, compared with around 300,000 seeing a decrease. A copy of that analysis, including which sectors would have been hardest hit by a 2015 revaluation, is available in the Library of the House.

Private Rented Housing

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to better protect the rights of private sector tenants from irresponsible landlords.

Kris Hopkins: The Government are committed to a better private rented sector that offers security, stability and decency. We are already changing the law to require all letting agents to join Government-approved redress schemes which will allow tenants to seek compensation where they are the victims of bad practice, such as being charged hidden fees.
	To encourage greater understanding of tenants' rights, we will shortly publish a new ‘How to Rent’ guide for tenants. We are also developing a model tenancy agreement to help tenants achieve greater security of tenure when needed, and a code of practice on property management.
	The Government have provided £6.7 million to a number of local authorities to help them tackle rogue landlord activity.
	We are also encouraging local authorities to use their existing powers to improve standards. They already have wide powers to tackle rogue landlord activity and poor property conditions and to encourage their use.
	Through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, the current £5,000 cap on fines for certain housing and planning offences will be removed and rogue landlords will be liable to potentially unlimited fines. Where the fine is currently capped at less than £5,000, the maximum fine will be quadrupled.
	Finally, we published a discussion document on 24 February, inviting views on how property conditions in the private rented sector could be improved. The closing date for comments was 28 March. We are now considering the proposals we have received. We will announce the outcome of our review in the summer.

Private Rented Housing: Rents

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the ONS index of rental prices; and what recent assessment he has of the changes in the cost of private renting in Slough since 2010.

Kris Hopkins: The Office for National Statistics responded quickly to the need for better data by developing the quarterly index of private housing rental prices, first published in June 2013 and dating back to January 2005 for England.
	Currently the Office for National Statistics is consulting users of the index to identify improvements. The index is produced with a robust methodology, which is published and is based on extensive administrative data on rental values, including both ongoing and newly agreed tenancy agreements. Once the methodology is further tested and assessed, and the publication meets user needs, the index of private housing rental prices will be assessed against the code of practice to achieve National Statistic status.
	The index is available for Great Britain and its constituent countries; however it is not available at local authority district level. According to most recent figures the average cost of privately renting housing in England increased by 1.0% in the 12 months to December 2013—a fall in real terms.

Procurement

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) 20 highest and (b) 20 lowest value contracts awarded by his Department were in each financial year since 2009-10.

Brandon Lewis: Under this Government's transparency programme contracts are published on Contracts Finder, which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Trade Unions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.

Brandon Lewis: As I indicated in my answer of 13 September 2013, Official Report, column 884W, Ministers in this Department do not believe it is appropriate for public resources to be used to support the collection and administration of membership subscriptions and believe is an outdated and unnecessary 20th-century practice.
	It is also unsatisfactory that some trade unions collect the political levy via check-off, but make no attempt to inform would-be members that the political levy is optional, or even mention the right to opt out on their membership forms. It is the view of Ministers that this is a misleading and dubious marketing practice through omission.
	I can confirm that we are taking further steps to review such practices.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to answer question number 193630 tabled on 25 March 2014 for answer on 31 March.

Brandon Lewis: PQ 193630 was answered on 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 776W.

TREASURY

Bank Services

Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what future plans the Government have to utilise funds from the unclaimed life policies or dormant bank accounts.

Sajid Javid: On 27 March the Government published a Review of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, which set out the Government's view on the existing schemes set up in the legislation.
	The Government currently have no plans to use funds from unclaimed life insurance policies, but keep all policy under review.

Business: Government Assistance

Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with investors in renewable energy before the changes to the enterprise investment scheme on tax breaks for companies benefiting from the renewables obligation.

David Gauke: Budget 2014 announced that companies benefiting from renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) and/or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will be excluded from the venture capital schemes, including the enterprise investment scheme.
	This change ensures the venture capital schemes continue to support smaller and growing businesses in a targeted and effective way. The Government consulted extensively with stakeholders when similar action was taken to exclude companies benefiting from feed-in tariffs from the venture capital schemes in 2011.
	Further information on the detail of the change will be published shortly, ahead of the publication of an impact assessment and legislation.

Children: Day Care

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the digital inclusion implications of requiring online accounts for new childcare proposals announced in Budget 2014;
	(2)  on what systems the online account required for the new childcare proposals announced in Budget 2014 will be implemented; and who is responsible for the implementation of those proposals;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Government Digital Service on the integration of the new online childcare accounts into gov.uk.

Nicky Morgan: Tax-free childcare will be hosted on the Government Digital Service (GDS) Gov.uk website alongside other Government digital services. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has overall responsibility for the implementation of these services, in partnership with National Savings and Investments (NS and I) which will operate the accounts.
	The GDS is leading the Government's work to link digital inclusion into policy programmes and digital services. HMRC has directly consulted with GDS who has been involved in the design of the process and the creation of the solution for tax-free childcare.
	The Government will continue to talk with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that tax-free childcare is as simple and secure as possible for parents to access and use.

Dover Priory Station

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment HM Revenue and Customs has made of the economic benefits that new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station would provide to the local area.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has made no assessments of the economic benefits that new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station would provide to the local area.

Dover Priory Station

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings HM Revenue and Customs has conducted with Network Rail on the development of new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station in the last six months.

David Gauke: No meetings have taken place between HM Revenue and Customs and Network Rail regarding the development of new parking facilities at Dover Priory railway station in the last six months. However, Network Rail has been in contact with Mapeley as owner/managers of the site.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of compensation cases which have been miscalculated by the Equitable Life payment scheme.

Sajid Javid: There have been no miscalculations as a result of any errors in the calculation methodology. 11 cases have, however, been recalculated as a result of new information supplied by the policyholder.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals made to the Equitable Life payment scheme (a) have been decided and (b) are awaiting resolution.

Sajid Javid: Out of the over 800,000 payments that have been made, a total of 495 cases have been submitted to the independent review panel to date. Some 477 have been resolved and 18 are in the process of being resolved.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average additional award paid following a successful appeal made to the Equitable Life payment scheme is.

Sajid Javid: Out of the nine successful appeals by non-annuitants following receipt of new input data, the highest, lowest and average additional payments were:
	(a) £5,230.31
	(b) £32.91
	(c) £1,891.51
	In addition two annuitants have made successful appeals. The total value of the payments made to them will depend on the duration on their annuity.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount is in additional payments made by the Equitable Life payment scheme as a result of successful appeals to date; and what proportion that amount is of the total compensation awarded.

Sajid Javid: The value of additional payments made as a result of appeals is £17,023.61. This is 0.0019% of the total value paid by the scheme to date.
	Two annuitants have made successful appeals, and the total value of the payments made to them will depend on the duration on their annuity.

Excise Duties: Oil

Simon Hart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will publish a list of approved UK tax warehouses for handling oil products;
	(2)  what steps the Government have taken to ensure that the excise payment security system is available to small and medium-sized enterprises in the oil products sector;
	(3)  what studies the Government are undertaking on the future of the vapour recovery scheme; and when conclusions from such studies will be published;
	(4)  what steps the Government have taken to extend the tax warehousing system to inland road fuel terminals throughout the UK;
	(5)  what steps the Government have taken to allow the movement of UK refined oil products to UK oil terminals in coastal tankers on a duty suspended basis.

Nicky Morgan: This information is held on a HMRC database and includes excise identification and approval numbers unique to the traders listed. For taxpayer confidentiality reasons this information is not publically available, and there is no intention to publish it.
	Eligibility criteria for a duty deferment guarantee waiver under the excise payment security system do not apply to or exclude particular sectors. These criteria are published by HMRC, and apply to all applicants.
	HMRC is considering the future of the vapour recovery scheme as part of the wider work programme to determine the appropriate course of action in respect of all their extra-statutory concessions.
	The Government's policy is not to allow duty suspended movements within the UK, this is both for administrative simplicity and to reduce the opportunities for criminal activity and fraud.

Natural Resources

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to implement the recommendations of the second State of Natural Capital report on (a) sustaining economic growth and (b) providing public services; and if he will make a statement.

Nicky Morgan: The NCC's report contains a range of recommendations which the Government need to consider collectively. The Government will respond to the NCC's report once they have fully considered it.

Nurseries

Lucy Powell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 13W, on nurseries, if he will collect information on the number of workplace nurseries available to staff in his Department, his Department's executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies in those years.

Nicky Morgan: There have been no workplace nurseries operated by the Department, its Executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies during any of the years in question.

Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend rules on the deliberate deprivation of capital used in the means test for social care funding as a consequence of the planned changes to pensions from 2015.

David Gauke: This measure fundamentally changes the way that people can access their retirement savings, and so depending on the decisions they make, people may increase or decrease their chances of being eligible for means-tested services at some point in their retirement. We will ensure that the relevant guidance, including where necessary the guidance on deliberate deprivation of capital, is updated before the new flexibilities are implemented in April 2015.

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely reduction to the block grant for Northern Ireland in the current financial year arising from lack of progress on welfare reform.

Danny Alexander: I have written to the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance and Personnel setting out that the Treasury will reduce Northern Ireland Executive budgets to reflect savings foregone as a result of the lack of progress on welfare reforms already in place in the rest of the United Kingdom. For 2014-15 those estimated savings are £87 million and in 2015-16 they will rise to £114 million.

Revenue and Customs

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on the voluntary exit scheme for staff at HM Revenue and Customs offices in Northern Ireland.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched two voluntary exit schemes in November 2013 for people in 21 of its offices and for people in its debt management and banking division. Further schemes were opened in February 2014 for eligible staff at administrative assistant grade across the country, and for people affected by the decision to replace inquiry centres with a new service for customers who need extra help.
	There are nine offices or inquiry centres across Northern Ireland where eligible people have been invited to apply for one of the schemes. A summary of the progress at 4 April 2014 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Location Invited to apply Applied for VE Offered VE1 Accepted VE Declined VE Pending decision2 
			 Antrim 1 1 1 - - 1 
			 Ballymena 4 3 3 1 - 2 
			 Belfast 17 14 11 5 3 3 
			 Coleraine 10 9 9 3 3 3 
			 Craigavon 11 7 7 3 1 3 
			 Enniskillen 30 24 23 5 17 1 
			 Lisburn 8 7 7 4 1 2 
			 Londonderry 79 66 66 32 34 0 
			 Newry 137 45 45 30 15 0 
			 Total 297 176 172 83 74 15 
			 1 Four of those that applied withdrew their applications after being successful in obtaining a post in the new service for customers who need extra help. 2 A decision is pending for 15 people as they have until 28 April to decide whether or not to accept a formal offer of voluntary exit.

Tobacco

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of contraband cigarettes entering the UK were originally manufactured in the UK.

David Gauke: The information requested is not available. HM Revenue and Customs records data on seizures of illicit products but these do not include the country of manufacture.

Unpaid Taxes

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been issued demand notices for unpaid tax since the introduction of the £50,000 maximum tax relief on pensions contributions in April 2011.

David Gauke: HMRC does not hold data on the total number of letters issued demanding payment of an established and overdue tax debt since April 2011. Each taxpayer with an established and overdue debt may receive several letters requesting payment.